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THE  UNIVERSITY 

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TURNER  ON  BIRDS 


Sontion:    C.  J.   CLAY  AND  SONS, 

CAMBRIDGE    UNIVERSITY   PRESS   WAREHOUSE, 
AVE  MARIA   LANE. 
50,   WELLINGTON   STREET. 


ILetpjtg:   F.  A.   BROCKHAUS. 

THE  MACMILLAN  COMPANY. 
anfc  Calcutta:  MACMILLAN  AND  CO.,  LTD. 


TURNER  ON   BIRDS: 

A   SHORT   AND    SUCCINCT   HISTORY 

OF    THE 

PRINCIPAL  BIRDS  NOTICED  BY  PLINY  AND  ARISTOTLE, 


FIRST    PUBLISHED    BY 

DOCTOR    WILLIAM    TURNER, 

1544- 


EDITED, 
WITH    INTRODUCTION,   TRANSLATION,    NOTES,   AND   APPENDIX, 

BY 

A.  H.  EVANS,  M.A. 

CLARE  COLLEGE,  CAMBRIDGE. 


CAMBRIDGE  : 
AT   THE   UNIVERSITY   PRESS 

1903 

LIBRARY 

.laSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
DAVIS 


PRINTED   BY  J.    AND   C.   F.    CLAY, 
AT   THE    UNIVERSITY    PRESS. 


PREFACE. 

IN    translating    this    treatise    it    has    been    thought 
advisable  to  adhere  as  closely  as  possible  to  the 
original  text  of  Turner,  though  in  many  places  a  more 
modern    style    of  phraseology   would   doubtless   have 
better  pleased  the  ear  of  the  non-scientific  reader. 

Not  a  few  difficult  points  of  interpretation  have 
arisen  in  the  course  of  the  work,  and  the  Editor 
welcomes  this  opportunity  of  expressing  his  gratitude 
to  Professor  Newton  and  to  Mr  R.  D.  Archer- Hind 
of  Trinity  College  for  the  invaluable  help  that  he  has 
received  from  them  in  elucidating  the  hard  passages 
and  in  revising  the  proofs.  The  Editor's  thanks  are 
also  due  to  the  Syndics  of  the  University  Press  for 
undertaking  the  present  publication. 


9,  HARVEY  ROAD, 
CAMBRIDGE. 
July,  1903. 


NOTE. 

It  may  be  remarked  that  the  pages  of  Turner's  work  are  not 
numbered  in  the  original;  but,  for  convenience  of  reference,  the 
pagination  is  marked  in  the  margin— the  numbers  being  included  in 
square  brackets. 


INTRODUCTION. 

WlLLTAM  TURNER,  author  of  the  rare  treatise  here  re- 
published,  was  a  native  of  Morpeth  in  Northumberland  and  is 
supposed  to  have  been  the  son  of  a  tanner  of  that  town.  By 
the  aid  of  Thomas,  the  first  Lord  Wentworth,  he  was  enabled 
to  enter  Pembroke  Hall  in  the  University  of  Cambridge,  where 
he  graduated  B.A.  and  was  elected  a  fellow  of  his  College 
in  1530.  At  Pembroke  he  became  acquainted  with  Ridley 
(who  instructed  him  in  Greek)  and  Latimer,  two  of  the  most 
earnest  advocates  of  the  Reformed  doctrines,  which  he  him- 
self, both  then  and  afterwards,  strenuously  embraced ;  but 
there  is  no  need  to  dwell  upon  his  theological  views  or  the 
polemical  works  in  which  they  were  set  forth. 

While  at  Cambridge  Turner  was  a  zealous  student  of 
botany,  and  in  1538  published  a  Libellus  de  re  herbaria. 
About  two  years  later  he  left  this  University  for  Oxford,  and 
soon  after  suffered  imprisonment  for  preaching  without  a 
licence.  On  his  release  he  quitted  England,  and  travelled 
by  way  of  the  Netherlands  and  Germany  to  Italy,  attending 
the  botanical  lectures  of  Luca  Ghini  at  Bologna,  where,  or  at 
Ferrara,  he  took  the  degree  of  M.D. 

Thereafter  he  proceeded  to  Switzerland,  forming  a  close 
friendship  with  the  great  naturalist  Conrad  Gesner  of  Zurich, 
Professor  of  Medicine  and  Philosophy  in  the  School  of  that 
city,  who  held  him  in  high  esteem,  and  with  whom  he  after- 
wards kept  up  a  correspondence.  He  seems  to  have  been  at 
Basel  in  1543,  but  early  in  1544  he  was  at  Cullen  (Cologne), 
where  he  published  not  only  the  present  work — dedicated 


viii  Introduction 

to  Edward  Prince  of  Wales  (afterwards  King  Edward  the 
Sixth) — -but  also  edited  the  Dialogus  de  Avibus  of  his  friend 
Gybertus  Longolius  of  Utrecht,  who  died  the  preceding  year. 
He  pursued  his  botanical  studies  in  several  parts  of  Germany, 
as  well  as  in  the  Netherlands,  including  East  Friesland,  for 
he  became  physician  to  the  Count  of  Emden,  and  visited  the 
islands  of  Juist  and  Norderney  lying  off  the  coast  of  that 
province. 

On  the  death  of  King  Henry  the  Eighth  he  returned  to 
England,  becoming  chaplain  and  physician  to  Lord  Protector 
the  Duke  of  Somerset ;  but  he  lived  at  Kew,  where  he 
established  a  botanic  garden.  He  was,  moreover,  incor- 
porated M.D.  of  Oxford,  and  was  appointed  a  prebendary 
of  York.  In  1550  the  Privy  Council  sent  letters  for  his 
election  as  Provost  of  Oriel  College  in  Oxford,  but  the  post 
had  been  already  filled,  and  a  similar  disappointment  awaited 
him  in  regard  to  the  Presidency  of  Magdalen  College  in  the 
same  University.  He  then  applied  to  Sir  William  Cecil  for 
leave  to  return  to  Germany,  but  was  soon  after  consoled  by 
being  appointed  Dean  of  Wells,  and,  having  in  1551  published 
the  first  part  of  his  New  Herbal,  was  during  the  next  year 
ordained  priest  by  his  old  friend  Ridley,  then  Bishop  of 
London. 

On  the  accession  of  Queen  Mary  Turner  had  to  vacate  his 
deanery,  and  betook  himself  for  safety  once  more  to  the 
Continent,  visiting  Rome  and  several  places  in  Germany  and 
Switzerland.  When  Queen  Elizabeth  ascended  the  throne  he 
returned  to  England,  and  recovered  his  deanery,  to  which 
was  attached  the  rectory  of  Wedmore  in  Somersetshire  ;  but 
in  1564  he  was  suspended  for  nonconformity  and  seems  to 
have  come  to  live  in  London.  In  1557  he  had  addressed 
a  letter  on  English  Fishes  to  Gesner,  which  was  included 
in  that  naturalist's  Historia  Animalium;  and  in  1562  he 
published  the  second  part  of  his  Herbal,  which  he  dedicated 
to  Lord  Wentworth,  the  son  of  his  original  benefactor.  On 
the  /th  of  July  1568  Turner  died  at  his  house  in  Crutched 
Friars  in  the  City  of  London,  and  was  buried  in  the  church  of 
St  Clave,  Hart  Street. 


Introduction  ix 

Turner  married  Jane,  daughter  of  George  Ander,  Alder- 
man of  Cambridge,  by  whom  he  had  issue  Winifred,  Peter  and 
Elizabeth. 

It  must  be  understood  that,  his  scientific  work  apart, 
nearly  the  whole  of  Turner's  life  was  spent  in  religious 
controversy,  and  he  published  a  considerable  number  of 
polemical  works,  the  titles  of  which  may  be  seen  in  the 
bibliography  appended  to  the  excellent  '  Life '  prefixed  to 
Mr  Jackson's  facsimile  reprint  of  the  Libellus  de  re  herbaria'*', 
whence  all  the  particulars  above  given  are  taken.  Other 
lists  of  Turner's  works  may  be  found  in  Cooper's  Athenae 
Cantabrigienses  (I.  pp.  257 — 259)  and  the  Dictionary  of 
National  Biography  (LVII.  pp.  365,  366). 

Turner's  object  in  writing  the  present  treatise  is  fully  set 
forth  in  his  '  Epistola  Nuncupatoria '  prefixed  to  it.  While 
attempting  to  determine  the  principal  kinds  of  birds  named 
by  Aristotle  and  Pliny,  he  has  added  notes  from  his  own 
experience  on  some  species  which  had  come  under  his 
observation,  and  in  so  doing  he  has  produced  the  first  book 
on  Birds  which  treats  them  in  anything  like  a  modern 
scientific  spirit  and  not  from  the  medical  point  of  view 
adopted  by  nearly  all  his  predecessors;  nor  is  it  too  much 
to  say  that  almost  every  page  bears  witness  to  a  personal 
knowledge  of  the  subject,  which  would  be  distinctly  creditable 
even  to  a  modern  ornithologist. 

This  knowledge  is  especially  evident  in  his  account  of  the 
habits  of  the  Hobby  (p.  19),  Hen-Harrier  (p.  19),  Water- 
Ousel  (p.  23),  Moor-Buzzard  (p.  33),  Osprey  (p.  37),  Godwit 
(p.  45),  Wheatear  (p.  53),  Sandpiper  (p.  57),  Fieldfare  (p.  59), 
Cuckoo  (p.  69),  Black-headed  Gull  (p.  77),  Black  Tern 
(p.  79),  Swallows  (p.  101),  Cormorant  (p.  in),  Shrike  (p.  119), 
Redbreast  and  Redstart  (p.  157);  while  his  keen  eye  for 
distinctions  is  shown  in  his  descriptions  of  the  Black  Cock 
and  Grey  Hen  (p.  43),  Godwit  (p.  45),  Tree-Creeper  (p.  53), 

1  Libellus  de  re  herbaria  novus,  by  William  Turner,  originally 
published  in  1538,  reprinted  in  facsimile,  with  notes,  modern  names, 
and  a  Life  of  the  Author,  by  Benjamin  Daydon  Jackson,  F.L.S. 
Privately  Printed.  London:  1877. 

a  5 


x  Introduction 

Doves  (p.  59),  Lapwing  (p.  77),  Nutcracker  (p.  95),  Reed- 
Bunting  (p.  103),  Kites  (p.  117),  Bullfinch  (p.  161)  and  others. 
He  is  most  careful  to  tell  us  whether  he  observed  the  various 
species  in  England  or  abroad  and  their  comparative  abund- 
ance, and  to  note  the  breeding  of  the  rarer  species,  such  as 
the  Spoonbill  (p.  151),  and  Crane  (p.  97)  within  our  islands— 
that  of  the  Crane  being  of  special  interest ;  the  whole  account 
of  the  Cuckoo  (p.  69)  is  also  most  noticeable,  as  is  that 
of  the  curious  Walt-rapp  (p.  95)  of  which  Gesner  writes  as 
follows: 

GESNER  De  Corvo  Sylvatico1  (p.  337). 

AuiS,  cuius  hie  effigies  habetur,  a  nostris  nominatur  uulgo 
ein  Waldrapp',  id  est  coruus  sylvaticus...Sunt  qui  phalacro- 
coracem  hanc  auem  interpretentur,  quoniam  &  magnitudine 
&  colore  fere  coruum  refert:  &  caluescit,  ut  uidi,  cum  adultior 
est.  Turnerus  Aristotelis  coruum  aquaticum  &  Plinij  phala- 
crocoracem,  &  coruum  syluaticum  nostrum  auem  unam  esse 
arbitratur,  tertium  genus  graculi.  Coruus  syluaticus  Helue- 
tiorum,  inquit,  auis  est  corpore  longo  et  ciconia  paulo  minore, 
cruribus  breuibus,  sed  crassis  :  rostro  rutilo,  parum  adunco 
(curuo)  &  sex  pollices  longo :  alba  in  capite  macula,  &  ea 
nuda,  si  bene  memini....Sic  ille. 

Doubtless  Turner's  work  is  not  free  from  errors,  as  in  the 
case  of  the  very  old  story  of  the  breeding  of  the  Bernicle-Goose 
(which,  however,  he  was  most  loth  to  credit  even  when  assured 
of  its  truth  by  an  Irish  Divine),  in  his  confounding  of  the 
Onocrotalus  with  the  Ardea  stellaris  and  the  Cornish  with 
the  Alpine  Chough  ;  yet  these  are  but  small  blots  on  a  very 
excellent  treatise,  which  compares  most  favourably  with  other 
writings  of  his  time. 

It  is  quite  evident  from  various  passages  that  Turner  was 
acquainted  with  Aristotle's  works  in  the  original  Greek,  and 
especially  with  his  History  of  Animals •;  but  he  preferred 
quoting  that  author  from  the  Latin  translation  of  Theodorus 

1  Conradi  Gesneri  Tigurini  medici  &  Philosophise  professoris  in  Schola 
Tigurina  Historic  Animalium  Liber  III.  qui  est  de  Auium  natura/  Tiguri 
apud  Christoph.  Froschovervm,  Anno  M.D.LV. 


Introduction  xi 

Gaza  of  Thessalonica,  the  most  celebrated  Scholar  of  his  day, 
who,  fleeing  from  the  sack  of  Constantinople,  played  a  con- 
spicuous part  in  the  rise  of  the  "  New  Learning,"  and  after  a 
course  of  teaching  in  Rome,  entered  successively  the  service 
of  the  Popes  Nicholas  the  Fifth  and  Sixtus  the  Fourth, 
eventually  dying  in  poverty  in  Lucania  about  1484. 

Exact  transcription  of  a  text  was  considered  by  no  means 
necessary  in  those  days:  consequently  we  find  many  obser- 
vations and  explanations  inserted  in  the  text  of  Aristotle 
and  Pliny,  which  had  no  place  in  the  original1. 

Besides  referring  to  Gesner,  Turner  mentions  other  learned 
men  by  name  and  occasionally  quotes  from  their  works; 
while  his  pages  also  inform  us  of  many  places  that  he  visited. 

The  following  excerpts  from  Gesner  not  only  give  in- 
stances of  correspondence  between  him  and  Turner,  but  also 
shew  that  the  former  was  accustomed  to  correct  the  latter 
from  his  wider  knowledge  of  Ornithology. 

De  Branta  vel  Bernicla...  (p.   107). 

Ide  [Turnerus]  post  librum  suum  de  avibus  publicatum, 
in  epistola  ad  me  data,  Berniclas  siue  Brantas  (inquit)  ex 
putridis  nauis  malis  fungorum  more  nasci,  minime  fabulosum 
esse  doctorum  &  honestorum  uirorum  oculata  fides  mihi  per- 
suasit.  Branta  anserem  palustrem  ualde  refert :  his  tamen 
notis  ab  eo  differt.  Branta  breuior  est,  a  collo  quod  rubescit 
nonnihil,  ad  medium  usq,,  uentrem,  qui  candicat,  nigra  est. 
anserum  more  segetes  populatur.  In  Vuallia  (quse  pars  est 
Angliae)  in  Hibernia  &  Scotia  aues  istae  adhuc  rudes  &  im- 
plumes  in  littore,  sed  non  sine  forma  certa  &  propria  auis 
passim  inueniuntur.  Et  rursus,  Praeter  brantam  aut  berniclam 
est  alia  auis,  quee  originern  suam  arbori  refert  acceptam. 
Arbores  sunt  in  Scotia  ad  littus  maris  crescentes,  e  quibus 
prodeunt  ueluti  fungi  parui,  primum  informes,  postea  pau- 
latim  integram  auis  formam  acquirunt,  perfectae  tandem 
magnitudinis  illae,  rostro  aliquantisper  pendent,  paulo  post 
in  aquam  decidunt,  &  turn  demum  uiuunt.  Hoc  tot  tantaec^ 
integritatis  uiri  affirmauerunt  ut  credere  audeam,  &  aliis  cre- 
dere suadea.  Haec  ille.  Eliota  Anglus  &c 

1  The  precise  references  to  Aristotle  and  Pliny  are  now  supplied,  from 
the  texts  of  Aubert  and  Wimmer,  and  Sillig  respectively. 


xii  Introduction 

De    Vulpansere  (p.   1 56). 

Chenalopex  (inquit  Turnerus  Anglus)  ab  ansere  &  uulpe 
nomen  habet... 

Et  rursus  in  epistola  ad  me,  Vulpanserem  Angli  vocat  a 
Bergander,  nidulatur  in  cuniculoru  foueis  more  uulpium,  anate 
maior,  minor  ansere,  alis  ruffis.  Eliota  Anglus... 

De  Pygargo  (p.   199). 

Pygargum  (inquit  Turnerus)  literatores  quidam  inepte 
trappum  a  Germanis  dictum  (tardam,  uel  bistardam)  inter- 
pretantur.  Sed  pygargus  Anglorum  lingua,  nisi  fallar,  erna 
vocatur,  an  erne.  Ego  ernam  audio  dici  genus  aquile  quod 
apud  Frisios  ad  Oceanum  Germanicum  per  hyemem  degat, 
colore  nigro,  quod  cornices  quaedam  ut  ex  escarum  eius  re- 
liquijs  uictitent  sequantur.  Pygargus  est  forte  quam  Anglice 
dicimus  ringetayle,  Eliota.  Sed  Turnerus  ringtalum  Anglis 
dictum  ab  albo  circulo  caudam  circumeunte,  buteone  mi- 
norem,  subbuteonem  Aristotelis  esse  suspicatur.  Quod  si 
minor  est  buteone,  non  poterit  esse  pygargus. 

De  Caprimulgo  (p.  235). 

[Having  quoted  Turner]  Idem  postea  in  litteris  ad  me 
missis,  caprimulgum  se  uidisse  scribit  prope  Bonnam  (Ger- 
manise ciuitatem  ad  ripam  Rheni,  supra  Coloniam)  ubi  a 
uulgo  appellatur  Naghtraiien,  id  est  coruus  nocturnus.  Nos 
auis  illius  quae  Argetin^  vocatur  NacJitram,  corrupto  forsan 
nomine,  alibi  Nachtrap,  effigiem  infra  ponemus  cum  historia 
nycticoracis. 

De  Cardnele  (p.  235). 

...Auis  Aristoteli  thraupis,  OpavTrls,  dicta  a  Gaza  carduelis 
conuertitur :  quod  &  Hermolao  probatur.  Turnero  quidem 
non  assenserim,  qui  chloridem  nostram  (Grunting  uulgo 
vocant)  thraupin  esse  conijcit. 

De  Rala  terrestri  (pp.  481 — 482). 

...Perdix  rustica  vel  rusticula  Plinij  (inquit  Turnerus  in 
epistola  ad  me)  ab  Anglis  vocatur  rala.  Est  autem  rala 
duplex,  altera  cibum  e  ripis  fluminum  petit,  altera  degit  in 
ericeto  in  locis  sylvestribus.  Aquaticam  illam  Coloniae  diu 
alui,  &  male  uolare  deprehendi,  &  egregie  pugnacem.  Ro- 
strum &  crura  erat  rubra,  plume;  multis  maculis  respers?. 


Introduction  xiii 

Montana  vero  ilia  &  syluestris  crura  habet  multo  breuiora 
aquatili,  &  plumas  undic^  magis  cinereas,  sed  rubra  interim 
crura  habet  &  rostrum,  auis  utrac^  apud  nos  regium  epulum 
(real  Itali  regium  vocant,  Galli  royal,  &  forte  hinc  ductum 
est  raise  vocabulu.  a  colore  crurum  forte  erythropus  merit) 
vocatur.  Hsec  ille. 

De  Cinclo  (p.  592). 

Turnerus  cinclum  auem  Anglice  interpretatur  a  water 
swallow,  (quasi  dicas  hirundinem  aquaticam,)  Germanice  eiu 
Steinbcisser,  (sed  nostri  aliam  aue,  coccothrausten  nostrum, 
Steinbeisser  appellant.)  Auicula  (inquit)  quam  ego  cinclum 
esse  puto,  galerita  paulo  maior  est,  colore  in  tergo  nigro, 
uentre  albo,  tibiis  longis,  &  rostro  neutiquam  breui.  Vere 
circa  ripas  fluminum  ualde  clamosa  est  &  querula,  breues  & 
crebros  facit  uolatus.  1[  Huic  Turneri  descriptioni  cognata 
uideri  potest  merula  aquatica  nostra :  magis  uero  ilia,  quam 
circa  Argentoratum  Lyssklicker  appellant :  quam  non  similem 
modo  Turned  cinclo,  sed  prorsus  eandem  esse  conijcio,  cuius 
figuram  sequens  pagina  cotinet. 

De  Motacilla  quam  nostri  albam  cognominant  (p.  593). 

Turnerus  in  libro  de  Auibus  Cnipologon  Aristotelis  (id 
est  culicilega  interprete  Gaza)  hac  auem  esse  putat... [quo- 
tation].... Sed  postea  in  epistola  ad  me,  Culicilegam  Aristotelis 
(inquit)  in  terra  Bergensi  uidi,  tota  cinerei  fere  colons  est,  & 
speciem  habet  pici  Martij,  ilia  uero  quam  culicilegam  esse 
putaba,  est  uariola  nisi  fallor. 

De  Nycticorace  (pp.  602 — 604). 

TURNERUS  in  litteris  ad  me  missis  caprimulgum  auem  se 
uidisse  scribit  prope  Bonnam  (Germanise  ciuitatem  ad  ripam 
Rheni,  supra  Coloniam,)  ubi  a  uulgo  appellatur  Naghtrauen,  id 
est  coruus  nocturnus.  Nos  in  praecedente  pagina  effigiem 
adiecimus  auis  quae  circa  Argentoratum,  ut  audio  Nachtram, 
alibi  Nachtrab  nominatur.  quae  tamen  nec^  caprimulgus  neq> 
nycticorax  mihi  uidetur.  [The  figure  is  of  the  Night-Heron, 
unmistakably.] 

De  Onocratalo  (pp.  607 — 608). 

Onocrotalus  Machliniensis,  quse  Vogelhain  a  Brabantis 
uocatur,  quinquaginta  annis,  ut  ipsi  ferunt,  Machliniae  uixit, 
cygno  maior  est.  penne.  foris  albicant,  in  fundo  uero  rubrum 


xiv  Introduction 

quiddam  ostendunt.  collum  duas  spithamas  longum  est,  aut 
paulo  longius,  rostrum,  quod  rubrum  habet,  dodrantali  longitu- 
dine  est  &  quatuor  uncias  longius,  &  in  fine  hami  propemodum 
more  incuruum  &  uersus  finem  latius  latiusq^  proturbinatur. 
crura  anserinis  similia,  breuia,  nimirum  pro  magnitudine  tanti 
corporis :  in  pectore  magnum  habet  ueluti  sacculum  protube- 
rantem  Alis  est  longissimis,  &  ipsis  in  summa  extremitate 
nigris,  Guil.  Turnerus  in  epistola  ad  me 

Bononiae  uisus  est  mihi  onocrotalus  (uerba  sunt  ex  epis- 
tola Angli  cuiusdam  amici  ad  me)  plumis  cinereis  tectus, 
cygno  maior,  palmipes,  capite  mergi,  rostro  quatuor  palmas 
fere  longo,  &  in  fine  adunco,  collo  deplumi,  amplissimo,  ut 
anatem  deuorare  posset.  Captam  aiebat  in  lacu  Benaco.... 

Solis  uictitat  piscibus,  &  bis  tantum  anno  bibit.  Tur- 
nerus... Pisces  praesertim  anguillas  auidissime  uorat  botaurus 
auis,  Turnerus.  idem  amicus  quidam  de  onocrotalo  ad  me 
scripsit.  ego  onocrotalum  quidem  hoc  facere  non  dubito  :  de 
botauro  dubitari  potest,  praesertim  cum  multi  etia  non  indocti 
cum  onocrotalo  eum  confundant. 


De  Per  dice  (p.  644). 

...Quae  Aristoteles  &  Ouidius  de  perdice  scribunt,  omnia 
nostrae  perdici  uulgari  conueniunt,  nempe  uolandi  nidulandiq., 
ratio,  astutia,  circa  prolem  solicitudo,  corporis  grauitas,  & 
uocis  stridor,  a  quo  etiam  nomen  accepisse  uidetur,  Turnerus 
in  epistola  ad  nos. 

The  'Avium  praecipuarum...Historia)  was  reprinted  by 
Dr  George  Thackeray,  Provost  of  King's  College,  Cam- 
bridge, in  1823;  but  the  reprint  is  as  rare  as,  if  not  rarer 
than,  the  original.  Two  copies  are  in  the  Library  of 
King's  College. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  Birds  determined  by  Turner. 

ALAUDID/E.       Alauda     arvensis.      ALCEDINID^E.        Alcedo      ispida. 

Lerk   or   Laverock.      German  Kynges  fissher.     G.  Eissvogel^ 

Lerch,  p.  80.  pp.  18 — 22. 

A.  arborea.     Wodlerck,  p.  80.  [Turner  recognised  two  kinds 

A.   sp.  ?     Wilde   Lerc   or   Heth  of    Kingfishers    described    by 

Lerk.     G.  Heid  Lerch,  p.  80.  Aristotle       and      Pliny,     but 

Galerita  cristata.     [No   English  does     not     state     what     they 

name.]     G.  Copera,  p.  80.  are]. 


Introduction 


xv 


ANATIDJE.     Anas    boscas.     Duck, 

pp.  22,  48. 
Anser   (2   species.)      Gose.     G. 

Ganss,  p.  22. 
Bernicla    leucopsis.       Brant     or 

Bernicle  Gose,  p.  26. 
Cygnus  olor.     Swan.     G.  Swdn^ 

p.   120. 

Marecapenelope.    Wigene,  p.  48. 
Nyroca  ferina.     Pochard,  p.  48. 
Qtterquedula  crccca.    Tele,  p.  48. 
Tadorna    cornuta.      Bergander, 

p.  24. 

ARDEID^:.      Ardea    sp.  ?    (white). 
Cryel  or  Dwarf  Heron,  p.  38. 
A.  cinerea.     Heron.     G.  Reyger, 

p.  36. 
Botaurus  stellaris.    Bittour,  But- 

tor,  Buttour,  or  Myre  Dromble. 

G.  Pittour,  Rosdont)  pp.  38,  40, 

122. 

CAPRIMULGID^E.         Caprimulgus 
europceus.   [No  English  name], 
p.  48. 
GERTRUDE.      Certhia  familiaris. 

Creper,  p.  52. 

CHARADRIID^E.   Charadrius  pluvi- 
al is.  Pluver.  G'.  Pulver,  p.  132. 
Vanellus  milgaris.   Lapwing.    G. 
Kywit,  pp.  76,  174. 

Ciconia  alba.     Stork. 
G.  Storck,  Sax.  Ebeher,  p.  54. 
Cinclus     aquaticus. 
Water-Craw,  p.  22. 
COLUMBID^:.   Columba  sp.  ?   Dove. 
G.  Taube,  Sax.  Ditve,  p.  59. 
[Venice  Dove,  p.  62.] 
C.  anas.     Stocdove.     G.  Holtz- 

taube,  p.  60. 

C.  palumbus.  Coushot  or  Ring- 
ged  Dove.  G.  Ringel  Taube > 
p.  60. 

Turtur  communis.  Turtel  Duve, 
p.  60. 


CORVID^E.     Corvus  corax.    Raven. 

G.  Rabe,  p.  64. 

C.  cornix.     Winter  Crow,  p.  64. 
C.    cor  one.       Crow.       G.    Krae, 

Kraeg,  p.  64. 
C.     frugilegus.       [No     English 

name],  p.  64. 
C.    monedula,      Caddo,    Chogh, 

Ka.  G.   Dol,  Sax.  Alke,  p.  92. 
Garrulus  glatidarius.     Jay.     G. 

Mercolphus,  p.   144. 
Nucifraga    caryocatactes.      [No 

English     name.]       G.    Nous- 

brecher,  p.  94. 
Pica    rustica.       Py,    Piot.       G. 

Elster,  Atzel,  pp.  142,  144. 
Pyrrhocorax  graculus.     Cornish 

Choghe.     G.  Bergdol,  p.  90. 

[Confounded  with  P.  alpinusJ] 
CUCULID^:.  Cuculus  canorus.  Cuk- 

kow,  or  Gouke.     G.  Kukkuck, 

p.  66. 
CYPSELID^:.  Cypselus  apus.  Chirche 

Martnette.      Rok    Marti  nette. 

G.  Kirch  Swalbe,  pp.  100,  102. 
C.  melba.  Great  Swallow.  G.Geyr 

S-ivalbe,  p.  102. 

FALCONID^:.   Actipiter  nisus.  [No 
English  name],  p.  66. 

Aquilayp.  ?  Right  Egle.  G.  Edel 
Arn,  p.  36. 

Astur  palumbarius  [?]  Sparhauc. 
G.  Sperwer,  p.  18. 

Buteo  vulgaris.     Bushard,  p.  16. 

Circus  cEruginosus.    Balbushard, 
p.  32. 

C.  cyaneus.    Hen-Harroer,  Ring- 
tale,  p.  1 8. 

[Turner  calls  the  male  Hen- 
Harroer,  the  female  Ringtale, 
erroneously  considering  them 
two  species.] 

Falco  czsalon.   Merlin.    G.  Smerl, 
p.  1 6. 


XVI 


Introduction 


FALCONID^E.   F.  subbuteo.  Hobby, 

p.  18. 

Gypaetus  barbatus  [?].    [No  Eng- 
lish name],  p.  128. 
Haliaettis     albicilla.       Egle     or 

Erne.     G.  Am,  Adler,  p.  30. 
Milvus     ater.        [No      English 

name],  p.    116. 
M.   ictinus.      Glede,    Puttok,   or 

Kyte.     G.    Weye,  p.   116. 
Tinnunculus  alaudarius.  Kastrel, 

Kistrel,  or  Steingall,  p.  166. 
FRINGILLID^E.     Carduelis  elegans. 

Goldfinche.       G.     Distelfinck, 

Stigelitz,  pp.  40,  50. 
C.  spinus.     Siskin.     G.  Zeysich, 

Engelchen,  p.  108  (cf.  p.  50). 
Emberiza  citrinella.    Yelovvham, 

Yovvlryng.      G.    Geelgorst,    p. 

1 06. 
E.  miliaria.    Bunting.    G.  Gerst- 

hammer,  pp.  134,  158. 

E.  sch&niclus.     Rede    Sparrow. 
G.  Reydt  Muss,  pp.   102,   134. 

Fringilla  Calebs,  Chaffinche, 
Sheld-appel,  Spink.  G.  Buck- 
Jink,  p.  72. 

F.  montifringilla.       Bramlyng. 
G.  Rower  t,  p.  72. 

Ligurinus  Moris.     Grenefinche. 

G.  Kirsfincke,  pp.  104,  106. 
Linota    cannabinat     Linot.     G. 

Flasfinc,  pp.  50,   158. 
Passer  domesticus.    Sparrow.    G. 

Musche,  Spats,  Liiningk,  Sax. 

Sperlingk,  p.  132. 
Pyrrhula    europcea.      Bulfinche. 

G.  Blodtjinck,  p.  160. 
Serinus  canarius.     Canary  Bird, 

p.  1 08. 

GRUID.E.   Grus  communis.    Crane. 
G.  Kran,  Kranich,  pp.  94,  96. 

HlRUNDINID^.       Cotile     riparia. 


Bank     Martnet.       G.      Uber 
Sivalbe,  Speiren,  p.   102. 
Hirundo  rustica.    Swallowe.    G. 
Schwalb,   Sax.   Swale,  pp.  96, 

100,    102. 

.  Comatibis  eremita.  [Red- 
cheeked  Ibis].  G.  Waltrap, 
pp.  92,  94. 


E.  Lanius  excubitor.  Schric, 

Shrike,   or   Nyn   Murder.      G. 

Nuin  Miirder,  Neun  Murder, 

pp.  116,  118,   168. 
Lanius    minort      [No    English 

name],  p.  168. 
LARID^E.     Hydrochelidon     nigra. 

Stern,  p.  78. 
Larus  sp.  ?    [Grey  Gull.]   Se  Cob 

or  See  Gell,  p.  78. 
L.   sp.?    [White    Gull.]     White 

Semaw.  Se  Cob  or  Seegell.  G. 

Wyss  niewe,  pp.  74,  78. 
L.    ridibundus.      White   Semaw 

with  a  blak  cop,  pp.  74,  76. 

MEROPID^E.        Merops     apiaster. 

[No  English  name],  p.  112. 
M  OTAC  I  LLI  D.E.     A  nth  u  spraten  st  's. 

Titlyng,  p.  68. 
Motacilla   lugubris  or  M.  alba. 

Wagtale.      G.    Wasser  Steltz, 

Quikstertz,  p.  64. 

ORIOLID^E.  Oriolus  galbula.  Wit- 
wol.  G.  Witwol,  Weidwail, 
Kersenrife,  pp.  148,  172,  174. 

OTIDID^E.  Otis  tarda.  Bistard 
or  Bustard.  G.  Trap  or  Trap 
Ganss,  pp.  130,  166. 

PANDIONID^E.    Pandion  haliaetus. 
Osprey.  G.  Visharn,  pp.  34,  36. 
Parus  cceruleus.     Non. 
p.  132. 


Introduction 


xvn 


.     P.   major.     Great    Tit- 

mous,  or  Great  Oxei.    G.  Kol- 

meyse,  p.  130. 
P.  palustris  or  P.  ater.      Less 

Titmous.  G.  Meelmeyse,  p.  130. 
PHALACROCORACID^E.      Phalacro- 

corax  carbo.     Cormorant.     G. 

Ducher,  p.    no. 
P.graculusJ   Douker  (pt),  Loun, 

Ducher  (pt.),  p.  176. 
PHASIANID^E.     Attagen    [possibly 

Bonasa  sylvestris,   the    Hazel 

Grouse],  pp.  42,  44. 
Gallus  ferrugineus  (domesticus). 

Cok,  Hen.    G.  Han,  Hen,  Sax. 

Hon,  p.  82. 
Numida  meleagris.    [No  English 

name?]     Kok  of  Inde?  pp.  82, 

86,  140. 
Pavo  cristatus.  Pecok.  G.  Pffaw, 

Sax.  Pagelihi,  p.  136. 
Perdix   cinerea.      Pertrige.      G. 

Velt  hbn,  Kaphbn,  p.  138. 
Phasianus  colchicus.  Phesan.  G. 

Fasant,  Fasian,  p.  140. 
PHCENIX.       [No    English    name], 

p.   140. 
PICID^E.       Dendrocopus      major? 

Specht,    or     Wodspecht.      G. 

Elsterspecht,  pp.   146,   148. 
Gecinus  viridis.     He  whole,  Hu- 

hol,  Raynbird  ?  G.  Griinspecht, 

pp.  88,  112,  114,  146,  148. 
lynx    torquilla.       [No    English 

name],  pp.   146,  148. 
Picus    martins.      [No    English 

name].     G.  Craspecht,  p.  148. 
PLATALEID^E.   Platalea  leucorodia. 

Shovelard.     G.    Lefler,    Loffel 

Ganss,  pp.  38,   150. 
PODICIPEDID^E.     Podidpes  minor, 

Douker  (pt),   Ducher  (pt),   p. 

176. 

PROCELLARIIDyE.         PtlffinUS     sp.  ? 

Bird  of  Diomede,  p.  70. 


PSITTACID^E.      Parrot.      Popinjay. 

G.  Papegay,  p.  150. 
RALLID^E.    Crex pratensis.    Daker 

Hen,     Rale  (?)       G.     Schryk, 

S eric  a,  pp.  70,  128,  140. 
Fulica  nigra.     Cout,  pp.  32,  76. 
Gallinula  chloropus.  Mot  Hen  or 

Water  Hen.     G.  Wasser  Hen, 

p.  170. 
Porphyrio  ccelestis.    [No  English 

name],  p.  152. 

SCOLOPACID^.     Actitis  hypoleuca. 

Water  Swallow.  G.  Steynbisser, 

pp.  54,  56. 
Limosa     belgica.       Godwitt     or 

Fedoa,  p.  44. 
Scolopax  rusticula.  Wodcok.   G. 

Holtz  Snep/.  pp.  42,  86. 
Totanus  calidris.     Redshanc,  p. 

102. 
SITTID^:.   Sitta  ccesia.   Nut-jobber. 

G.    Nushakker,   Meyspecht,  p. 

162. 
STRIGID^E.    Asio  otus.    Horn  Oul. 

G.   Ranseiil,    Schleier  Eul,  p. 

130. 
Bubo  ignavus.    Lyke  Foule.     G. 

Schuffaitss,    Schiiffel,     Kautz, 

p.  46. 
Strix  stridula  (?)    Owl,  H owlet. 

G.  Eul,  Sax.   We,  p.  120. 
STRUTHIONID^E.  Struthio  camelus. 

Oistris.    G.  Strauss,  p.  164. 
STURNID^E.      Sturnus     vulgaris. 

Sterlyng.     G.    Star,    Stbr,    p. 

164. 
SULID^E.     Sula    bassana.     Solend 

Guse,  p.  28. 
SYLVIID^E.    Accentor  modularis  (?) 

Hedge-sparrow,  or  Dike  Smou- 

ler.  G.  Grassmusch,  Koelimtssh, 

p.  136. 
Daulias  luscinia.     Nyghtyngall. 

G.  Nachtgal,  p.   108. 


XV111 


Introduction 


Erithacus    rubecula. 

Robin  Redbreste.    G.  Rotbrust, 

Rotkelchen,  p.  154. 
Pratincola  rubicola.    Stonchatter 

or  Mortetter.    G.  Klein  Brach- 

vogelchen,  p.  158. 
Kegulus  cristatus(t\  [No  English 

name.]     G.  Gold  Hendlin,  pp. 

154,  1 68. 
Rutidlla phccn 2 cunts.  Rede  Tale. 

G.  Rotstertz,  p.  154. 
Saxicola  cenanthe.    Arlyng,  Clot- 

burd,    Smatche   or   Steinchek. 

G.  Brechvogel)  p.  52. 
Sylvia  atricapilla  (?).     [No  Eng- 
lish  name.]     G.    Grasmuklen, 

p.  44. 
6*.   rufa  ?     Lingett.      G.    Graes- 

musch,    Grassmusch,    p.    in, 

[cf.  P-  136]- 

TETRAONID^E.     Coturnix  commu- 
nis.    Quale.    G.  Wachtel,  p.  62. 
Lagopjis    mutus.      [No   English 
name],  p.   104. 


L.  scoticiis.     (?)     Morhen,  p.  86. 

Tetrao     tetrix.       [No     English 

name],  p.  42. 

TROGLODYTID^E.  Troglodytes  par- 
vulus.  Wren.  G.  Kuningsgen\ 
Zaunkiiningk,  p.  152. 
TURDID^:.  Turdus  iliacus,  mu- 
sicus,  viscivorus.  Thrusche, 
Thrushe,  Throssel,  Mavis,  or 
Wyngthrushe.  G.  Drossel, 
Durstel,  Weingaerdsvoegel,  pp. 
170,  172. 

T.  merula.  Blak  Osel  or  Blak- 
byrd.  G.  Merl,  Amsel,  p.  114. 

T.  pilaris.  Feldfare  or  Feldefare. 
G.  Krammesvbgel)  Wachholter- 
vogel,  pp.  58,  170.  [Confounded 
with  Mistletoe  Thrush?] 

UPUPID^E.     Upupa  epops.    Howpe. 
G.  Houp,  Widhopff,  p.  174. 

VULTURID^E.      Vultur  sp.      Geir. 
G.  Geyr,  p.   176. 


AVI  V  M 

PR  AEG  I PV 

ARVM,    QVARVM 

APVD    PLINIVM    ET    ARI- 

ftotelem  mentio  eft,  breuis  & 

fuccinfta  hiftoria. 


Ex    optimis    quibufque  fcripto- 

ribus  contexta,  fcholio  il/u 

Jlrata  &  aufta. 


Adieftis  nominibus  Grtecls,   Germanicis 
Britannicis. 


Per  Dn.    Guilielmum  Turnerum,  artlum  £sf  Me- 
dicines doflorem. 


Colonicz  excudebat  loan.    Gymnicus^ 
Anno  M.  D.  XLIIII. 


itrodiiction 


L.  scoticus.     (?)     Morhen,  p.  86. 
trao     tetrix.       [No     Englis 
p.  42. 

Troglodytes  pa 
i.  Kuningsgi 


DE    HISTORIA    AVIUM. 


Epistola  Nuncupatoria 


[P.  3]  Illuftriffimo  VValliae  principi,  Eduuardo 
filio  haeredi,  fereniffimi  &  potentif- 
fimi  Henrici  VIII.  regis  Anglias, 
Franciae,  &  Hiberniae,  Guilielmus 
Turnerus  S.  P.  D. 

RUDENS  admodum,  &,  fi  quid  ego  intel- 
ligo  (illuftriffime  princeps)  neceffaria  im- 
primis regij  prophetae  fuit  admonitio,  qua  reges, 
principes  &  iudices  terrse,  ut  intelligerent,  & 
eruditionem  confequerentur,  admonuit.  Nam 
ut  fummus  ille  reru  architectus  Deus  optimus 
maximuscj*,  caput  fuper  omnes  reliquas  corpo- 
ris  partes  in  homine,  qui  perfectiffime  in  fe 
[p.  4]  Reipublicae  fimulachrum  gerit,  collocauit,  & 
omnes  quinq*  fenfus  fimul  in  eo  repofuit, 
ut  pro  reliquis  omnibus  mebris  (quibus  folus 
ta6lus  eft  conceffus)  uideret,  audiret,  guftaret  & 
odoret,  &  eorum  faluti  confuleret :  ita  principem 
Reipublice,  corpori  ex  multis  memb-ris  conflato, 
ueluti  caput  praefecit,  ut  prudentia,  eruditione, 
&  fenfibus  fuis  non  tarn  exterioribus,  qua  inte- 
rioribus,  totius  Reipublicae  commodis  &  faluti 
profpiceret.  In  pedibus  uifum,  in  tibijs  audi- 
tum,  in  manibus  olfactum,  in  brachijs  odoratum 
nemo  requirit:  fed  hacc  omnia  in  capite  requi- 
runtur. 


Epistle  Dedicatory 


To  the  most  illustrious  Prince  of  Wales, 
Edward,  son  and  heir  of  the  most  serene 
and  mighty  Henry  VIII,  King  of  Eng- 
land, France  and  Ireland,  William  Turner 
wishes  long  life  and  health. 

EXCEEDING  wise,  and  if  I  understand  aright, 
necessary  above  all  things,  most  illustrious 
Prince,  was  the  warning  of  the  royal  prophet,  in  which 
he  admonished  kings,  princes,  and  judges  of  the  earth 
that  they  should  have  understanding  and  seek  learn- 
ing. For,  as  that  architect  supreme  of  the  universe, 
God  most  good  and  great,  placed  the  head  above  all 
the  remaining  parts  of  the  body  in  man,  who  in  him- 
self shews  forth  the  image  of  a  most  perfect  State, 
and  stored  up  in  it  all  the  five  senses  at  once,  that  it 
should  see,  hear,  taste,  and  smell  for  all  the  remaining 
members  (to  which  touch  alone  has  been  allowed), 
and  should  consult  for  their  well-being ;  so  he  hath 
set  the  Prince,  as  it  were  a  head,  over  the  State, 
a  body  welded  together  of  many  members,  that  he 
should  provide  for  the  advantage  and  well-being  of 
the  whole  State  by  his  wisdom,  learning  and  senses, 
not  so  much  external  as  internal.  No  one  demands 
sight  in  the  feet,  hearing  in  the  legs,  smell1  in  the 
hands,  or  smell  in  the  arms  ;  but  all  these  things  are 
necessary  in  the  head. 

1  This  should  probably  be  "taste"  (gustum). 


4  Epistola  Nuncupatoria 

Quum  igitur  tot  fenfus  in  capite  uni  tantu 
corpori  prefeclo  requirantur :  quot  fenfus,  quan- 
tum fapientiae  &  eruditionis  ab  eo  capite  exi- 
[p-  5]  guntur,  cui  plus  quam  trecentorum  milium 
corporum  praefeclura  committitur  ?  Quod  fi 
quis  forfan  refpondeat,  non  in  principe,  fed  in 
ijs  folis,  qui  illi  a  confilijs  funt,  eruditionem  & 
prudentiam  requiri  :  hunc  ego  dignum  cenfere, 
qui  pro  tali  refponfo,  omnibus  fenfibus,  excepto 
taclu,  orbatus  in  media  fylua  uepribus  &  fpinis 
denfa,  caueis  &  foffis  formidabili,  quatuor  du- 
cibus  comitatus  ftatueretur,  nobis  diclurus,  nu 
proprijs  malit  uti  fenfibus  an  alienis  ?  &  num 
tutius  illi  fit,  ducum  fuorum  incertorum  fenfibus, 
an  proprijs  duci  ?  &  qua  ratione  caecus  &  furdus 
odoratu  &  guftu  deftitutus  ipfe,  ceci'ne  an  ui- 
detes  fui  fint  duces,  dignofcere  poffit  ? 

In  confiliarijs  fummam  prudentiam  &  eru- 
[p.  6]  ditionem  non  uulgarem  requiri,  non  diffiteor : 
uerum  non  in  ijs  folis,  nam  fi  illi,  qui  principi 
funt  a  confilijs,  ad  tempus  bene  confulant,  & 
poftea  in  ipfius  perniciem  male  fuadeant,  ut 
Abfaloni  Achitofelem  feciffe  legimus :  quomodo 
perniciofum  illortim  confiliu  ipfe  fubodorabitur 
&  depraehendet,  nifi  eruditione  &  prudentia  con- 
filiarios  fuos  aut  fuperet,  aut  faltem  sequet  ? 
Quare  no  in  confiliarijs  tantum,  fed  in  principe 
ipfo  eruditio  &  fapietia  requiruntur.  Non  de- 
funt,  qui  fatis  effe  principi  exiftimant,  quo  caete- 
ris  mortalibus  praeftet,  fi  regio  ueftitu,  diuitijs, 
copijs,  fcite  pulfando  teftudinem,  &  tela  dextre 
uibrando,  fubditis  fuis  preluceat :  uerum  fortif- 
[p.  7]  fimi  quiqj  &  fapientiffimi  reges  longe  diuerfum 


Epistle  Dedicatory  5 

Inasmuch  therefore  as  so  many  senses  are  requisite 
in  the  head,  which  is  set  over  one  body  alone,  how 
many  senses  and  what  a  wealth  of  wisdom  and  learn- 
ing are  demanded  from  that  head,  to  whom  more  than 
three  hundred  thousand  bodies  are  given  in  charge  ? 
But  if  any  should  chance  to  answer  that  learning  and 
wisdom  are  needed  not  in  the  Prince,  but  only  in 
those  who  are  his  councillors,  I  should  consider  it 
fitting  that  he  for  such  a  reply  should  be  set,  accom- 
panied by  four  guides,  in  the  midst  of  a  wood  tangled 
with  briers  and  thorns,  and  dangerous  with  its  pits 
and  ditches,  deprived  of  all  his  senses,  except  that 
of  touch,  and  should  tell  us  whether  he  preferred  to 
use  his  own  senses  or  those  of  others  :  or  whether  it 
would  be  safer  for  him  to  be  led  by  the  senses  of 
his  doubting  guides  or  by  his  own  ;  and  in  what  way 
he,  being  blind  and  deaf,  and  destitute  of  smell  and 
taste,  could  determine  whether  his  guides  were  blind 
or  able  to  see. 

I  fail  not  to  confess  that  the  highest  wisdom,  and 
learning  of  no  common  sort,  are  requisite  in  coun- 
cillors, but  not  in  them  alone ;  for  if  they  who  are 
the  advisers  of  the  Prince,  give  good  counsel  for 
the  time,  and  afterwards  prompt  him  ill  to  his  de- 
struction, as  we  read  that  Achitofel  did  in  the  case 
of  Absalom,  how  shall  he  smell  out  and  detect  their 
fatal  advice,  unless  he  either  excels  or  at  least  equals 
his  councillors  in  learning  and  wisdom  ?  Wherefore 
not  only  in  councillors  but  in  the  Prince  himself  are 
learning  and  wisdom  requisite.  There  are  not  want- 
ing those  who  think  it  enough  for  a  Prince,  as  matters 
in  which  he  should  surpass  other  mortals,  if  he  out- 
shines his  subjects  in  royal  garb,  in  riches,  in  resources, 
in  cunningly  striking  the  lyre,  and  in  skilfully  throwing 
the  spear;  but  all  the  bravest  and  wisest  kings  have 


6  Epistola  Nuncupatoria 

fenferunt.  Na  Mithridates  rex  Poti  &  Bithy- 
nie,  fe  regnorum  fuorum  caput  effe  intelliges,  et 
tot  corporibus,  quot  preerat,  unica  uernacula 
fuam  lingua  minime  fufficere,  uiginti  duas 
linguas  getium,  quas  fub  ditione  fua  habuit,  ita 
perfecle  didicit  &  percalluit,  ut  uiginti  illarum 
gentium  uiris  fine  interprete  prompte  refponde- 
rit,  &  fua  cuique  lingua  non  fecus  atque  gentilis 
fuiffet,  locutus  fuerit.  Ide  rerum  abditas  natu- 
ras  ita  peruefligauit,  &  in  re  medica  ita  foeliciter 
fuit  uerfatus,  ut  aduerfus  lethalia  uenena  anti- 
dotum,  quod  hodie  etiamnum  ab  eo  nomen 
fortitum,  Mithridatium  appellatur,  fuo  Marte 
inuenerit.  Alexander  ille  Macedonum  rex,  tarn 
[p.  8]  naturae  quam  fortunae  dotibus  iure  fufpici- 
endus,  tanto  bonarum  artium  &  philofophiae 
potiffimum  ftudio  flagrauit,  ut  etia  in  zelotypiam 
quandam  literariam  incident.  Nam  is  cum 
omnem  prope  Afiam  armis  &  exercitu  teneret, 
ubi  primu  Ariftotelem  libros  fuos  de  ausculta- 
tione  phyfica  inuulgaffe  acceperat,  in  tantis 
negocijs  cum  Ariftotele,  miffa  ftatim  epiflola 
de  editis  libris,  his  uerbis  expoftulabat :  Quod 
difciplinas  d/cpoa/xartfcas  edidifti,  non  recle  fe- 
cifti.  nam  qua  alia  re  caeteris  praeftare  poteri- 
mus,  fi  ea,  quae  abs  te  accepimus,  omnium  pror- 
fus  fuerint  communia  ?  Quippe  ego  doctrina 
anteire  malim,  quam  copijs  atqj  opulentijs.  Haec 
Alexander. 

Diuino  approbatus  oraculo  rex  ille    Dauid, 


Epistle  Dedicatory  7 

thought  quite  differently.  For  Mithridates,  king  of 
Pontus  and  Bithynia,  understanding  that  he  was  the 
head  of  his  domains,  and  that  his  native  tongue  alone 
was  by  no  means  sufficient  for  the  numerous  bodies,  over 
which  he  reigned,  learned  so  perfectly  and  understood 
so  thoroughly  the  twenty-two  tongues1  of  the  nations, 
which  he  had  under  his  sway,  that  he  gave  immediate 
answers  to  twenty  men  of  those  nations  without  an 
interpreter,  and  spoke  to  each  in  his  own  tongue  just  as 
if  it  had  been  native  to  him.  He  also  so  thoroughly 
traced  out  the  hidden  natures  of  things,  and  occupied 
himself  to  such  good  purpose  in  the  science  of  medi- 
cine, that  he  discovered  by  his  own  exertions  an 
antidote  to  deadly  poisons,  which  even  to-day  is  called 
Mithridatium,  a  name  derived  from  him.  The  great 
Alexander,  king  of  the  Macedonians,  rightly  renowned 
as  much  for  the  gifts  of  nature  as  for  those  of  fortune, 
burned  with  so  great  a  zeal  for  the  noble  arts,  and 
philosophy  in  particular,  that  he  even  descended  to 
a  sort  of  literary  jealousy.  For  though  he  was 
holding  almost  all  Asia  by  force  of  arms  and  his 
troops,  when  first  he  heard  that  Aristotle  had  made 
public  his  books  '  De  Auscultatione  Physica,'  in  the 
midst  of  such  great  concerns  he  expostulated  with 
Aristotle  in  the  following  words,  a  letter  having  been 
at  once  sent  off  concerning  the  publication  of  the 
books:  "In  that  you  have  published  your  teachings 
called  aKpoa^ariKol  you  have  not  done  rightly ;  for 
in  what  other  thing  shall  I  be  able  to  excel  the  rest, 
if  those  things,  which  I  have  heard  from  you,  become 
henceforth  the  common  property  of  all  ?  For  I  should 
prefer  to  stand  first  in  learning  rather  than  in  re- 
sources and  wealth."  Thus  said  Alexander. 

The  great  king  David,  approved  by  the  voice  of 

1  'Duas'  is  perhaps  a  misprint  for  'duarum.' 


8  Epistola  Nuncupatoria 

[p.  9]  qui  &  propheta  fuit  diuino  numine  adflatus,  atqj 
ideo  qd  regi  maxime  neceffariu  foret,  cogno- 
fcens,  ante  omnia  literas,  nempe  facras  expetiuit, 
ut  fibi  teperare  non  potuerit,  quin  diceret,  Bene- 
diftus  es  domine,  doce  me  iuftificationes  tuas, 
in  uia  mandatoru  tuoru  deleclatus  fum,  ficut  in 
omnibus  diuitijs  :  in  mandatis  tuis  exercebor,  & 
confiderabo  uias  tuas.  Reuela  oculos  meos,  & 
confiderabo  mirabilia  de  lege  tua.  Bonitate  & 
difciplina  &  fcientiam  doce  me  :  ego  autem  in 
toto  corde  meo  fcrutabor  mandata  tua.  Nifi 
quod  lex  tua  meditatio  mea  eft,  tune  forte  perif- 
fem  in  humilitate  mea.  Quam  dulcia  faucibus 
meis  eloquia  tua,  fuper  mel  ori  meo.  Bonum 
mihi  lex  oris  tui  fuper  milia  auri  &  argeti. 

[p-  I01  Lucerna  pedibus  meis  uerbum  tuum,  &  lumen 
femitis  meis.  Declaratio  fermonum  tuorum  il- 
luminat,  &  intelleclum  dat  paruulis.  Haclenus 
rex  Dauid,  &  pace  &  bello  omnium  regum  il- 
luftriffimus. 

Rex  Solomon  huius  films,  omniu,  quos  un- 
qua  terra  genuit,  fapientifs.  cuius  unius  autori- 
tati  plus  tribuendum  eft,  quam  fexcentis  adula- 
toribus  diuerfum  fuadetibus,  cum  totius  orbis 
conditor  &  omnium  bonorum  largitor  Deus 
pater,  illi,  quod  fibi  optimum,  &  ex  ufu  fuo 
maxime  fore  iudicaret,  ultro  offerret,  &  pofcenti 
mox  fe  daturu  promitteret,  ad  hunc  modum,  ut 
diuinae  literse  teftantur,  refpondit.  Nunc  domi- 
ne Deus,  tu  me  regnare  fecifti  feruum  tuum  pro 
[p-  IJ1  Dauide  patre  meo,  ego  autem  fum  puer  par- 
uulus,  &  ignorans  ingreffu,  &  introitu  meu  :  & 
feruus  tuus  in  medio  eft  populi,  quern  elegifti, 


Epistle  Dedicatory  9 

God,  who  was  moreover  a  prophet  filled  with  divine 
inspiration,  and  therefore  well  aware  of  what  was 
especially  necessary  for  a  king,  sought  before  all 
things  learning,  and  that  of  course  divine,  so  that  he 
was  unable  to  restrain  himself  from  saying  "  Blessed 
art  thou,  O  Lord,  teach  me  thy  righteousness,  I  have 
delighted  in  the  way  of  thy  commandments,  as  in  all 
riches :  in  thy  statutes  will  I  exercise  myself,  and 
I  will  consider  thy  ways.  Open  thou  mine  eyes, 
and  I  will  consider  the  wonderful  things  of  thy  law. 
Teach  me  goodness  and  instruction  and  learning ;  but 
with  my  whole  heart  will  I  examine  thy  command- 
ments. Unless  thy  law  had  been  my  meditation, 
then  should  I  perchance  have  perished  in  my  low 
estate.  How  sweet  are  thy  sayings  to  my  mouth, 
better  than  honey  to  my  lips.  The  law  of  thy  mouth 
is  a  good  to  me  beyond  thousands  of  gold  and  silver. 
Thy  word  is  a  lantern  unto  my  feet,  and  a  light  unto 
my  paths.  The  telling  of  thy  discourses  giveth  light 
and  understanding  to  babes."  Thus  far  king  David, 
the  most  illustrious  of  all  kings  both  in  peace  and  war. 
King  Solomon,  his  son,  the  wisest  of  all  that 
earth  ever  bore,  to  whose  single  authority  more 
weight  is  to  be  given  than  to  six  hundred  flatterers 
persuading  to  a  different  course,  when  God  the  Father, 
maker  of  all  the  world  and  giver  of  all  good  things, 
of  his  own  accord  offered  to  him  what  he  should 
judge  to  be  best  for  himself  and  for  his  greatest 
advantage,  and  promised  that  he  would  grant  it  at 
once  on  his  request,  replied  in  this  manner,  as  the 
Scriptures  testify.  "  Now,  O  Lord  God,  thou  hast 
made  me,  thy  servant,  to  reign  in  the  room  of  David 
my  father,  but  I  am  a  little  child,  and  know  not  my 
coming  in  and  entering ;  and  thy  servant  is  in  the 
midst  of  the  people  whom  thou  hast  chosen,  an  in- 


io  Epistola  N lineup  at  or  ia 

populi  infiniti,  qui  numerari  &  fupputari  non 
poteft  pre  multitudine.  Dabis  ergo  feruo  tuo 
cor  docile,  ut  populum  tuum  iudicare  poffit,  & 
difcernere  inter  bonum  &  malum  :  quis  enim 
potefl  iudicare  populum  iftum,  populum  tuum 
hunc  multum  ?  Hue  ufq$  Solomon,  qui  in  phi- 
lofophia  tarn  diuina  quam  humana  ita  non 
multis  poft  annis  profecit,  ut  de  flirpibus  a 
cedro  ufq$  ad  hiffopum  difputauerit,  &  de  beftijs, 
uolucribus,  reptilibus,  &  pifcibus  differuerit 

Quare,  prudentiffimi  quique  principes,  & 
[p.  12]  fortiffimi,  no  fatis  habebant,  fubditos  fuos  di- 
uitijs,  honoribus,  ueftitu,  inceffu,  &  bellica  gloria 
excellere,  nifi  literis,  linguis,  philofophia  tarn 
diuina  quam  humana  infuper  multum  fupera- 
rent,  &  a  tergo  relinqueret.  Quod  pater  tuus 
omnium  regum,  qui  hodie  uiuunt,  eruditiffimus, 
fatis  ut  regem  tantum  decet,  intelligens,  &  cui 
Reipub.  gubernaculum  committitur,  quam  necef- 
faria  literae  &  philofophia  fmt,  prudenter  fecum 
perpendens,  liberos  fuos  femper  eruditiffimis 
quibufque  praeceptoribus  commifit.  Duci  enim 
Richmundiae,  piae  memoriae,  fratri  tuo  Geor- 
gium  Folberium  praeceptore  olim  meum,  uirum 
infigniter  doclum,  et  mirum  recle  inftituendae 
iuuentutis  artificem,  &  tibi  nuc  uirum  longe 
[p-  13]  doctiffimum  (uti  audio)  praefecit. 

Qua  de  caufa,  illuftriffime  &  optime  prin- 
ceps,  fapietiffimorum  &  fortiffimorum  regum 
exempla  fecutus,  atq*  potentiffimi  &  eruditiffimi 
patris  tui  confilio  obtemperans,  qui  te  ad  me- 
liores  imbibendas  literas,  nunquam  non  inuitat, 
incitat  &  hortatur,  dum  aetas  tua  adhuc  tenera 


Epistle  Dedicatory  1 1 

numerable  people,  a  people  which  cannot  be  numbered 
or  counted  for  their  multitude.  Thou  shalt  give 
therefore  to  thy  servant  a  heart  that  may  be  taught, 
that  he  may  be  able  to  judge  thy  people,  and  to 
discern  between  good  and  evil :  for  who  is  able  to 
judge  this  people,  this  great  people  of  thine  ?"  Thus 
far  spoke  Solomon,  who  not  many  years  afterwards 
so  excelled  in  philosophy  both  divine  and  human 
that  he  disserted  about  plants  from  the  cedar  even 
to  the  hyssop,  and  discoursed  of  beasts,  birds,  reptiles, 
and  fishes. 

Wherefore  all  the  most  wise  and  brave  Princes 
have  not  considered  it  sufficient  to  surpass  their  sub- 
jects in  riches,  honours,  garb,  gait,  and  warlike  glory, 
unless  beyond  this  they  excelled  them  far  in  learning, 
tongues,  and  philosophy  both  divine  and  human,  and 
left  them  in  the  rear.  And  this  your  father,  the  most 
learned  of  all  the  kings  who  are  alive  at  the  present 
day,  well  understanding,  as  becomes  so  great  a  king, 
and  one  to  whom  the  helm  of  the  State  is  entrusted, 
wisely  pondering  in  his  mind  how  necessary  learning 
and  philosophy  are,  always  committed  his  children  to 
the  care  of  the  most  learned  of  instructors.  For 
over  your  brother  the  Duke  of  Richmond,  of  pious 
memory,  he  set  Georgius  Folberius,  once  my  tutor, 
a  man  of  remarkable  learning,  and  a  wondrous 
handicraftsman  for  rightly  instructing  youth,  and  now 
over  you  (as  I  hear)  a  man  by  far  the  most  learned 
of  all. 

Wherefore,  most  illustrious  and  worthy  Prince, 
following  the  steps  of  the  wisest  and  bravest  kings, 
and  yielding  to  the  advice  of  your  most  powerful 
and  learned  father,  who  so  constantly  invites  you  to 
the  draught  of  superior  learning,  spurs  you  on,  and 
exhorts  you,  while  your  years  are  yet  tender  and 


12  Epistola  Nuncupatoria 

eft,    &  literaru   capaciffima,  omne  genus  bona- 

rum  literarum  obuijs  ulnis  amplectere,  difce,  & 

imbibe,  &  exantlati  in  bonas  literas  laboris  olim 

te   minime    poenitebit.     Sed    ut  ad    propofitam 

metam    minori    cum    negocio    poffis   peruenire, 

libellum     De    hiftoria    auium,    in    quo    Latinis 

nominibus   Grseca,    Germanica   &   Britanica   in 

[p.  14]  gratiam  tuam  appofui,   ex  Ariftotele  &    Plinio, 

&  optimis  quibusq*  fcriptoribus  contexui.    Hunc 

ego  nominis  tui  celebritati  dedico,  &  dono  :  etia 

atq$  etia  te  obteftans,  ut  hoc  meum  qualecunq* 

munufculum  aequi  boni'q*  confulas.     Quod  fi  te 

facturum  intellexero,  &  hunc  libellum  figuris  & 

auium    moribus,    &    medicinis    auclum,    &    de 

herbis  alium  etiam  librum,  breui,  uolente  Deo, 

in  lucem  emittam.     Vale.      Dominus  lefus 

te  nobis  fanftiffimis  moribus 

inftitutum,  &  optimis  lite- 

ris  imbutum,   quam  diu- 

tiffime  inculumem 

conferuet. 

Coloniae  5.   Idus  Februarij, 
Anno  M.D.XLIIII. 


Epistle  Dedicatory  13 

most  amenable  to  learning,  embrace  with  open  arms 
every  kind  of  noble  literature,  learn  and  drink  it  in, 
and  hereafter  you  will  surely  not  repent  of  the  labour 
expended  upon  this  noble  literature.  But  that  you 
may  be  able  to  reach  with  less  trouble  the  goal  that 
is  laid  before  you  I  have  compiled  from  Aristotle  and 
Pliny  and  all  the  best  writers  this  little  book  on  '  The 
History  of  Birds,'  in  which  I  have  placed  for  your 
pleasure  the  Greek,  German,  and  British  names  side 
by  side  with  the  Latin.  This  I  dedicate  and  offer 
to  the  glory  of  your  name  :  again  and  again  praying 
you  to  receive  this  little  gift,  such  as  it  is,  with  fair  and 
favourable  consideration.  And  if  I  understand  that 
you  will  do  this,  I  will  shortly,  God  willing,  bring  to 
the  light  of  day  a  further  edition  of  this  little  book 
with  figures  of  the  birds,  their  habits,  and  curative 
properties,  as  well  as  another  book  on  plants.  Fare- 
well. May  the  Lord  Jesus  preserve  you  as  long  as 
possible  unharmed  to  us,  trained  in  most  holy  ways 
and  filled  with  the  best  of  learning. 

Cullen  [Cologne].     February  pth,  1544. 


[p- 15]        De  decem  generibus  Accipitrum. 

ARISTOTELES1. 

Buteo.  A  CCIPITRUM  genus  praecipuum  Buteo 

J~\_  eft,  Triorcha2  a  numero  teftium  nuncupa- 

Aefaio.  tus :  fecundum  aefalo,  tertium  circus.  Stellaris 
autem,  palumbarius,  &  pernix3  differunt.  Ap- 
pellantur  fubuteones,  qui  latiores4  funt :  alij 

Percae  percae  &  fringillarij  uocantur :  alij  leeues5  &  ru- 

Frmgiilarij.  betarij,  qui  abunde  uiuunt6,  atque  humiuole  funt. 
Genera  non  pauciora  quam  decem  effe  accipi- 
trum  aliqui  prodiderunt,  quae  modo  quoq*  ue- 
nandi7  inter  fe  diffident.  Alij  enim  columbam 
humi  confidentem,  rapiunt,  uolantem  non  appe- 
tunt :  alij  fuper  arborem,  aut  tale  quid  con- 
fcendentem,  uenantur  :  fin  humi  est,  aut  uolat, 
[p.  1 6]  non  inuadunt.  Alij  neq*  humi,  neq*  in  fublimi 
manente,  adgrediutur,  fed  uolantem  capere  co- 
nantur.  Fertur  etiam  a  columbis  quodqj  ac- 
cipitru  genus  cognofci.  Itaqj  cum  accipiter 
prouolat,  fi  fublimipeta  eft,  manent  quo  confhi- 
terunt  loco  :  fed  fi  humipeta  qui  prouolat,  eft, 
non  manet,  fed  continue  auolant. 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  128—130. 

2  Aristotle  has  simply  Kparia-ros  pev  6  Tpiopxns. 

3  Other  readings  are  Trrepi/Js,  nepvys,  Trrepvys. 

4  Instead  of  TrXarurepoi,  some  texts  have  TrXaruTrrepot,  which 
would  make  better  sense  and  mean  'broad-winged.' 

6  Xflot,  or  according  to  another  text  eXeioi. 

6  The  word  ew^tcoraroi  here,  and  corresponding  expressions 
throughout   the  passages  quoted  in  this  book,  might  possibly 
mean  that  the  birds  in  question  have  no  particular  faults,  or  are 
of  ordinary  respectability.     Gaza,  however,  followed  as  usual  by 
Turner,  seems  to  have  interpreted  the  word  rightly  here. 

7  These  three  words  are  not  found  in  Aristotle. 


Of  the  ten  kinds  of  Accipitres. 

ARISTOTLE. 

THE  chief  kind  of  Accipitres  is  Buteo,  which  from 
the  number  of  its  testicles  is  named  Triorcha, 
y£salo  is  the  second,  Circus  is  the  third.  Again 
Stellaris,  Palumbarius,  and  Pernix  differ.  Those  which 
have  more  breadth  are  called  Subuteones  ;  other  kinds 
are  named  Percae  and  Fringillarii ;  others  Laeves  and 
Rubetarii,  which  get  their  living  most  easily,  and  fly 
near  to  the  ground.  Some  have  asserted  that  there 
are  no  fewer  than  ten  kinds  of  the  Accipitres  which 
differ  from  each  other  in  their  several  modes  of 
hunting.  For  some  sorts  seize  a  Dove  when  sitting 
on  the  ground,  but  do  not  touch  one  flying  ;  others 
seek  their  prey  when  perched  upon  a  tree,  or  such 
like,  but  if  it  be  on  the  ground  or  flying  do  not  attack 
it.  And  others  seize  it  neither  on  the  ground,  nor 
when  resting  aloft,  but  strive  to  catch  it  flying. 
Moreover  it  is  said  that  each  kind  of  Accipitres  is 
recognised  by  Doves.  So,  when  the  Accipiter  comes 
forth,  if  it  be  such  as  hunts  on  high,  they  stay  where 
they  have  settled,  but,  if  that  which  comes  be  such 
as  takes  them  on  the  ground,  they  stay  not,  but  forth- 
with fly  off. 


1 6  Accipitres 

PLINIUS1. 

Accipitrum  genera  fedecim  inuenimus.     Ex 

Circus.         ijs    circon    claudum    altero    pede,    profperrimi 

tpecuarie,     augurij  nuptialibus  negocijs,  &  fpecuniariae  rei2. 

Triorchen    a    numero    teftiu,    cui   principatum 

Buteo.          in    augurij s    Phcemone    dedit :    buteone    hunc 

appellant    Rom.    Aefalona    Graeci    uocant,    qui 

folus    omni    tepore    apparet.      Caeteri    hyeme 

Cymindis.     abeunt.      Nocturnus  accipiter  cymindis  uocatur, 

[p-  J7]  rarus  etiam  in  fyluis,   interdiu  minus  cernens  : 

bellum   internecinum  cum  aquila  gerit :    cohse- 

rentescj*  faepe  prsehenduntur.     Hsec  Plinius. 

Quanquam  A  riftoteles  decent  effe  accipitrum  genera 
tradat,  &  Plinius  fedecim :  neuter  tamen  horum  h&c 
ita  dtftinxit  genera,  &  defcripfit,  ut  procliue  fit  leflori 
fuum  cuique  peculiare  nomen  ex  illorum  prczfcriptis 
imponere.  Quare  a  me  nemo  horum  exaftam  differ en- 
tiam,  &  cuiufque  nomen  Britannicum  aut  Germanictim 
cum  Latino  &  Grceco  coniunEtum,  itire  poterit  exigere. 
Ego  tamen,  quod  nomen  Britannicum,  cuiq;  Latino 
imponedum  effe  cenfeo,  letJorem  minime  celabo. 

Buteo.  Buteo  rpLop^r)^  Greece  diflus,  Anglorum  busharda 

eft,  nijl  fallar :  nam  miluo  magnitudine  cequiparatur , 
femperq-,  ipfe  cernitur,  qualem  Ariftoteles  ocJauo  libro 
de  hijloria  animalium  bitteonem  defcribit. 

Aefalo.  \io-d\wv,  quoniam  iuxta  Plinij  fententiam  omni 

tempore  apparet,  &  inter  minores  accipitres  fola  merlina 
fiue  fmerla,  femper  adpareat,  rnihi  A  nglorum  merlina, 
&  Germanor.  fmerla  effe  uidetur. 

1  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  viii. 

2  If  the  reading  pecuarias  is  accepted,  the  meaning  would 
appear  to  be  'for  cattle  breeding.' 


Accipitres  1 7 

PLINY. 

Of  Accipitres  we  have  found  sixteen  kinds.  Circus 
among  them,  halting  in  a  foot,  of  lucky  omen  in 
nuptial  affairs  and  money  business.  Triorches  next, 
to  which  Phcemone1  gave  the  foremost  place  in 
auspices,  named  from  the  number  of  its  testicles  : 
the  Romans  call  it  Buteo  and  the  Greeks  ^Esalon  : 
it  is  the  only  kind  which  may  be  seen  at  every  time. 
The  rest  leave  us  in  winter.  An  Accipiter  that  flies 
by  night  is  called  Cymindis  ;  it  is  rarely  found  in 
woodlands,  in  the  day  it  scarce  can  see :  it  wages 
deadly  warfare  with  the  Aquila,  and  they  are  often 
captured  clinging  to  each  other.  So  far  Pliny. 

Though  Aristotle  may  set  forth  that  there  are  ten  kinds 
of  Accipitres,  and  Pliny  that  there  are  sixteen,  yet  neither 
of  them  has  distinguished  or  described  the  kinds  so  that  it 
may  be  easy  for  a  reader  to  apply  to  each  its  proper  name 
from  their  accounts.  So  no  one  can  in  fairness  claim  from 
me  their  exact  difference,  nor  yet  the  British  or  the  German 
name  of  each,  together  with  the  Latin  or  the  Greek  equivalent. 
I  will,  however,  surely  not  conceal  from  you,  my  reader, 
what  I  think  to  be  the  British  name,  and  to  which  Latin 
name  it  ought  to  be  applied. 

Buteo,  called  in  Greek  rpiopxr)?,  if  I  do  not  err,  is  the 
Buzzard  of  the  English,  for  it  is  compared  with  Milvus  as 
to  size ;  moreover  it  is  seen  at  all  times,  and  is  such  a  bird 
as  Aristotle  makes  his  Buteo  in  the  eighth  book  of  the 
1  History  of  Animals.' 

AtVaXw^,  since  in  Pliny's  judgment  it  appears  at  every 
season,  and  among  the  smaller  Hawks  the  Merlin  or  the 
Smerl  alone  seems  to  appear2  at  all  times,  is,  I  think,  the 
Merlin  of  the  English  and  Smerl  of  the  Germans. 

1  Phcemone,  called  'Daughter  of  Apollo,'  was  a  priestess  at  Delphi. 
(See  Pliny  Hist.  Nat.  ed.   Hardouin  :   Lipsias,   1791,   Index   Auctorum, 
p.  340.) 

2  This  seems  to  be  the  force  of  the  subjunctive  here,  if  it  is  not  an 
oversight. 

T.  2 


i8 


A  ccipitres — A  Icedo 


nus. 


Fringilla- 
rius. 


Rubetarius. 


[p.  1 8]  Accipitrem  palumbarium  ideo  Anglorum  fparhau- 
Palumba-  cam,  &  Germanorum  fperuuerum  effe  puto,  quod  pa- 
lumbes,  columbos,  perdices  &  grandiufculas  aues  infe- 
quatur. 

Fringillarium  Anglorum  hobbid  effe  conijcio.  Eft 
autem  hobbia  accipiter  minimus,  coloris  cceteris  nigri- 
oris.  In  capite  duos  habet  nigerrimos  in  pallido  neuos. 
Galeritas  &  fringillas  plerumq;  captat,  in  excel/is  ar- 
boribus  nidulatur,  &  hyeme  nufquam  cernitur. 

Rubetarium  effe  credo  accipitrem  ilium,  quern  Angli 
hen  harroer  nominant.  Porrb  ille  apud  noftros  a  dila- 
niandis  gallinis  nomen  habet.  Palumbarium  magni- 
tudine  fuperat,  &  coloris  eft  cinerij.  Humi  fedentes 
aues  in  agris,  &  gallinas  in  oppidis  &  pagis  repente 
adoritur.  Prceda  fruftratus,  tacitus  difcedit,  nee  iin- 
quam  fecundum  facit  infulttim.  Hie  per  humum  om- 
nium uolat  maxime. 

Subbuteonem  effe  puto,  quern  Angli  ringtalum  appel- 
lant, ab  albo  circulo,  qui  caudam  circuit.  Colore  eftmedio 
inter  fuluum  &  nigru,  buteone  paulb  minor,  fed  multb 
agilior.  Prcedam  eodem  modo,  quo  fuperior  captat. 

[p.  19]  DE   ALCEDONE. 

A.\Kva)i>y  alcedo,  Anglice  the  kynges  fifsher,  Germa- 
nice  e^n  eijwogel. 

ARISTOTELES1. 

Alcedo  non  multo  amplior  paffere  est,  co- 
lore  turn  uiridi,  turn  cceruleo,  turn  etiam  leuiter 
purpureo  infignis :  uidelicet  non  particulatim 
colore  ita  diftinfta,  fed  ex  indifcreto  uarie  re- 
fulgens  corpore  toto  &  alls  &  collo,  roflrum 
fubuiride,  longum  &  tenue.  Alcedonum  2  quo- 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  85. 

2  Hist.  An.  Bk  vill.  47. 


Subbuteo. 


A  ccipitres — A  Icedo  1 9 

The  Accipiter  palumbarius1  I  take  to  be  the  Sparrow- 
Hawk  of  the  English  and  the  Sperwer  of  the  Germans, 
since  it  preys  on  Doves,  Pigeons,  and  Partridges  and  the 
bigger  sorts  of  birds. 

The  Fringillarius  I  guess  to  be  the  Hobby  of  the  English. 
Now  the  Hobby  is  a  very  little  Hawk  of  darker  colour  than 
the  other  kinds.  It  has  upon  the  head  two  spots  of  deep 
black  on  a  lighter  ground.  It  catches  for  the  most  part 
Larks  and  Finches,  nests  on  lofty  trees,  and  is  not  seen  in 
winter  anywhere. 

The  Rubetarius  I  think  to  be  that  Hawk  which  English 
people  name  Hen-Harrier.  Further  it  gets  this  name  among 
our  countrymen  from  butchering  their  fowls.  It  exceeds  the 
Palumbarius  in  size,  and  is  in  colour  ashen.  It  suddenly 
strikes  birds  when  sitting  in  the  fields  upon  the  ground,  as  well 
as  fowls  in  towns  and  villages.  Baulked  of  its  prey  it  steals 
off  silently,  nor  does  it  ever  make  a  second  swoop.  It  flies 
along  the  ground  the  most  of  all. 

The  Subbuteo  I  think  to  be  that  Hawk  which  English- 
men call  Ringtail  from  the  ring  of  white  that  reaches  round 
the  tail.  In  colour  it  is  midway  from  fulvous  to  black  ;  it 
is  a  little  smaller  than  the  Buteo,  but  much  more  active. 
It  catches  prey  in  the  same  manner  as  the  bird  above. 

OF  THE  ALCEDO. 

rA\KV(w,  alcedo,  in  English  the  kynges  fisher,  in  German 
eyn  eissvogel. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Alcedo,  not  much  larger  than  the  Passer,  is 
remarkable  for  being  in  its  colour  green  and  blue, 
and  even  slightly  purple,  not,  that  is  to  say,  in  sepa- 
rate parts,  as  if  it  had  the  colour  perfectly  distinct, 
but  variably  shining  over  every  part  alike  of  the 
whole  body,  with  the  wings  and  head.  The  beak 
is  greenish,  and  is  long  and  thin.  The  tribe  of 

1  Later  authors  are  probably  more  correct  in  applying  this  name  to  the 
Goshawk,  which  suits  even  Turner's  account  better. 

2 2 


2O  A  Ice  do 

que  genus  aquas  adamat,  quod  duplex  eft : 
alterum  uocale,  harundinibus  infidens,  alterum 
mutum,  quod  ampliore  corpore  eft  .  utrique  dor- 
fum  cceruleum.  Sed  alcedo  apud  mare  quoque 
uerfatur. 

PLINIUS  \ 

Ipfa  auis  paulo  amplior  pafcere2,  colore 
[p.  20]  cyaneo,  ex  parte  maiore,  tantum  purpureis  & 
candidis  admixtis  pennis,  collo  gracili  ac  pro- 
cero.  Alterum  genus  earum,  magnitudine  dif- 
tinguitur,  &  cantu.  Minores  in  harundinetis 
canunt.  Halcyonem  uidere  rariffimu  eft,  nee 
nifi  Vergiliarum  occafu,  &  circa  folftitia,  bru- 
mam'ue,  naue  aliquando  circumuolata,  ftatim  in 
latebras  abeuntem.  Fcetificant  bruma,  qui  dies 
Halcionides  uocatur,  placido  mari  per  eos  & 
nauigabili,  Siculo  maxime.  In  reliquis  partibus 
eft  quidem  mitius  pelagus.  Siculu  utiq*  tracla- 
bile.  Faciunt  autem  feptem  ante  brumam  die- 
bus  nidos,  &  totidem  fequentibus  pariut.  Nidi 
earum  admirationem  habent,  pilae  figura  paulu 
eminente,  ore  perquam  angufto,  grandium 
[p.  21]  fpongiarum  fimilitudine,  ferro  intercidi  non 
queunt,  franguntun^  i6lu  ualido,  ut  fpuma  arida 
maris.  Nee  unde  confingantur  inuenitur.  Pu- 
tant  ex  fpinis  aculeatis,  pifcibus  enim  uiuunt. 
Subeunt  &  in  amnes.  Pariunt  oua  quina. 

1  Hist,  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  xxxii. 

2  Lege  'passere.' 


A  Ice  do  21 

Kingfishers,  of  which  there  are  two  sorts,  is  fond  of 
watersides  :  one  is  a  vocal  bird,  which  sits  on  reeds, 
the  other,  which  is  of  a  larger  size,  is  mute.  The 
back  is  blue  in  both.  The  Kingfisher,  however,  also 
haunts  the  sea. 

PLINY. 

This  bird  is  little  bigger  than  the  Passer,  for  the 
most  part  blue  in  colour,  with  the  wings  alone  of 
purple  mixed  with  white,  and  with  a  long  and  slender 
neck.  Each  of  the  two  kinds  may  be  distinguished 
by  its  size  and  voice.  The  lesser  sing  in  reed-beds. 
It  is  very  rare  to  see  the  Halcyon,  and  this  occurs 
only  towards  the  setting  of  the  Pleiades  and  near  the 
solstice  or  in  winter-time,  when,  after  circling  round 
the  ship  awhile,  it  hurriedly  departs  again  to  its 
retreat.  They  breed  in  winter,  at  the  season  called 
the  Halcyon  days1,  wherein  the  sea  is  calm  and  fit  for 
navigation,  the  Sicilian  sea  particularly  so.  Elsewhere 
indeed  the  ocean  is  less  boisterous.  The  Sicilian  is 
certainly  gentle  enough.  Now  these  birds  build  their 
nests  in  the  seven  days  before  the  winter  solstice, 
and  hatch  out  their  young  in  the  seven  following. 
Their  nests  compel  our  wonder,  of  a  ball-like  shape, 
with  a  small  jutting  part  and  very  narrow  hole, 
like  sponges  of  great  size  ;  they  cannot  be  cut  open 
with  an  iron  tool,  but  may  be  broken  by  a  vigorous 
blow,  as  dry  sea-foam2  may  be.  It  is  not  known 
of  what  these  are  composed.  Some  think  of  pointed 
bones,  since  the  birds  live  on  fish.  They  also  dive 
in  rivers,  and  lay  five  eggs  each. 

1  For  the  origin  of  this  ancient  tradition,  the  reader  may  be  referred 
to  any  work  dealing  with  Greek  mythology. 

2  By  'dry  sea-foam'  Pliny  probably  meant  masses  of  whelks'  eggs. 


22  A  nas — A  user 

Prater  h<zc  duo  ab  Arijlotele  &  Plinio  defcripta 
genera,  auem  noui,  qua  fi  alcedomim  generibtis  non  Jit 
adfcribenda,  fub  quo  genere  contineatur,  prorfus  nefcio. 
Ea  ftttrno  paulb  minor  eft,  corpore  toto  nigro,  excepto 
uentre  albo.  Caudam  habet  breuiufculam,  roftrum 
alcedone  paulb  breuius.  Ante  uolatum,  alcedonis  more 
crebrb  nutat,  &  in  uolatu  gemit:  uoce  alcedone  ita  re- 
fert,  tit,  niji  uideas,  alcedonem  ejfe  iurares :  in  ripis 
fluminum,  non  procul  a-mari  uidi,  alias  nufquam.  pif- 
ciculis  uiflitat  ut  fuperiora  alcedonum  genera.  Nidum 
huius  nunquam  uidi.  Morpetenfes,  apud  quos  auem 

a  uuater         uidi,  cornicem  uocant  aquaticam. 
crauu. 

DE  A  NATE. 
N^rra,  anas,  Anglice  a  duck,  Germanice  et)U  enbt. 

PLINIUS1. 

[p.  22]  Anates  folse,  quse'que  funt  eiufdem  generis, 
in  fublime  fefe  protinus  tollunt,  atqj  e  uefligio 
coelum  petunt,  &  hoc  etiam  ex  aqua. 

DE  ANSERE. 

X^i/,  anfer,  Anglice  a gofe,  Germanice  e^n  gang. 

A  riftoteles  Jimul  &  Plinius  duo  prczcipua  anferum 
genera  faciunt :  hie  anferem  in  maiorem  &  minor  em  t 
ille  in  domitu  et  feru  diuidens.  Sed  Plin.  prater  hczc 
duo  anferum  prcecipua  genera,  Penelopes*  et  chenalopeces , 
ut  unus  texttis  habet,  &,  ut  alius  habet,  chenalopeces ,  & 
chenerotes  anferini  ejfe  generis  tradit.  Prior  lectio  Jic 
habet, 

1  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  xxxviii. 

2  Judging  from  p.   148  of  the  original  work  the  singular  of 
this  word  is  '  Penelops,'  and  it  is  probably  by  mistake  that  the 
Wigeon  has  been  called  Mareca  penelope. 


Anas — Anser  23 

Besides  the  two  kinds  thus  described  by  Aristotle  and 
Pliny  I  know  of  a  bird,  of  which,  if  it  should  not  be  properly 
ascribed  to  the  Kingfisher  tribe,  I  really  cannot  say  under 
what  head  it  ought  to  go.  It  is  a  little  smaller  than 
a  Starling,  with  the  body  wholly  black,  except  for  a  white 
belly,  and  it  has  the  tail  comparatively  short,  the  beak  a  little 
shorter  than  the  Kingfisher.  Before  a  flight  it  dips  repeatedly, 
after  the  manner  of  the  Kingfisher,  and  cries  out  as  it  flies  ; 
it  is  so  like  the  Kingfisher  in  voice  that,  if  you  did  not  see 
it,  you  would  swear  it  was  a  Kingfisher.  I  have  observed 
it  on  the  banks  of  streams  not  far  from  the  sea-side,  but 
nowhere  else.  It  lives  on  little  fishes,  like  the  aforesaid  kinds 
of  Kingfishers.  I  never  saw  its  nest.  The  inhabitants  of 
Morpeth,  where  I  saw  the  bird,  call  it  a  water  craw1. 

OF  THE  ANAS. 
NiJTra,  anas,  in  English  a  duck,  in  German  eyn  endt. 

PLINY. 

Anates  only,  and  birds  of  like  kind,  rise  in  the 
air  at  once,  and  make  straight  for  the  sky,  and  that 
even  from  the  water. 

OF  THE  ANSER. 

XT^,  anser,  in  English  a  goose,  in  German  eyn  ganss. 

Aristotle  agrees  with  Pliny  in  making  two  chief  kinds  of 
Geese,  the  latter  separating  them  into  the  greater  and  the 
less,  the  former  into  tame  and  wild.  But  Pliny  tells  us  that 
besides  these  two  chief  kinds  of  Geese,  there  are  of  the 
Goose  kind  Penelopes  and  Chenalopeces,  as  one  text  has  it, 
as  another  goes,  Chenalopeces  and  Chenerotes.  The  first 
reading  stands  thus  : — 

1  The  bird  meant  is  undoubtedly  the  Water  Ousel  or  Dipper  (Cinclus 
aquaticus],  which  still  goes  by  the  name  of  Water  Craw  in  the  north  of 
England.  It  is  curious  that  Turner  should  never  have  seen  its  nest  when 
he  was  in  Northumberland. 


24  Anser. 

Anferu  generis  funt  Penelopes,  &  quibus 
lautiores  epulas  Britannia  non  nouit,  chenalo- 
peces,  anfere  fere  minores.  Altera  fie  habet: 
Anferini  generis  funt  chenalopeces  &  quib9 
lautiores  epulas  Britannia  no  nouit,  chenerotes1. 

Pofterior   lectio   mihi    magls   approbatur,   nam   & 

nos  una  aue   locupletat,  et  penelopes   anatini  potius   $ 

[p-  23]       anferini  generis  eruditis  effe  uidenttir.    Sed  quce'nam  iftce 

aues,  &  quibus  nominibus  apud  noftrates  appellantur, 

dicere  tentabo.     Chenalopex,  ab  anfere  et  uulpe  nomen 

habet,  &  Latine  a  Gaza  uulpanfer  dicitur.     Noftrates 

a  bergander.  hodie  bergandrum  nominat,  anate  longior  &  grandior 

uulpanfer  eft,  pectore  ruffefcente,  in  aquis  degit,  &  in 

cuniculoru  foueis.     interdum  &  in  excelfarum  rupium 

cauernis  (imde  forte  nomen  ab  Anglofaxonibus,  noftris 

patribus  fortitus   eft)  nidificat.     Nufqiiam  alias  uul- 

panferem  uidi,   niji   in    Tami/i  fluuio.     Aiunt  tamen 

freqttetem  ejje  in  infula  Tenia  uocata,  &  illic  in  fcrobi- 

bus    cuniculorum    nidulari.     Moribus    admodum    uul- 

pinis  eft.     nam  dum  teneri  adlmc  pulli  funt,  Jl  quis 

eos   captare   tentet,  prouoluit  fefe  uulpanfer  ante  pedes 

captantis,  quajl  iam  capi  pojjit,  atq;    ita  allicit  ad  fe 

capiendam  hominem,  eoufq',  dum  pulli  effugiant :  tum 

ipfe  auolat  &  reuocat  prolem.    Chenerotes  qiicenam  aues 

Jint,  puto  paucijfimos  hodie  effe,  qui  nouerunt.     Neq\ 

1  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  xxii. 


Anser  25 

"  Of  the  Goose  kind  there  are  Penelopes  and 
also  Chenalopeces,  the  latter  generally  smaller  than 
a  Goose ;  and  Britain  knows  no  richer  feast  than 
these." 

The  second  runs  : — 

"  Of  the  Goose  kind  are  Chenalopeces  and  Che- 
nerotes,  Britain  knows  no  richer  feast  than  these." 

To  me  the  latter  reading  most  approves  itself,  for  it 
both  makes  us  richer  by  one  bird,  and  the  Penelopes  seem 
to  our  learned  men  to  be  of  the  Duck  tribe  rather  than  of 
the  Goose.  But  I  will  try  to  say  what  these  birds  are  and 
by  what  names  they  go  among  our  countrymen.  The  Chena- 
lopex1  takes  its  name  from  the  Goose  and  the  Fox,  while 
it  is  called  by  Gaza  Vulpanser  in  Latin,  though  our  people 
nowadays  name  it  Bergander'2.  It  is  longer  than  a  Duck 
and  bigger,  with  a  ruddy  breast.  It  lives  upon  the  waters 
and  in  coneys'  burrows.  At  times  it  even  nests  in  holes  of 
lofty  rocks  (whence  possibly  the  name  was  first  allotted  to 
it  by  our  ancestors  the  Anglo-Saxons).  I  have  nowhere  else 
seen  the  Vulpanser  save  upon  the  river  Thames.  Neverthe- 
less they  say  that  it  is  plentiful  upon  the  isle  which  is  called 
Tenia3,  and  that  it  breeds  in  coneys'  burrows  there.  In 
habits  it  is  very  like  a  Fox,  for,  while  the  young  are  still 
of  tender  age,  should  any  one  attempt  to  capture  them,  the 
old  Vulpanser  rolls  upon  the  ground  before  his  very  feet4, 
as  if  she  could  be  taken  there  and  then,  and  thus  allures 
the  man  to  follow  her,  until  the  young  are  able  to  escape  ; 
then  she  flies  off  and  summons  back  her  brood.  I  think  that 
there  are  very  few  men  now  who  know  what  sort  of  birds  the 

1  Turner's  bird  was  undoubtedly  the  Sheld-Drake  (Tadorna  cornuta), 
notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  name  Chenalopex  has  been  conferred 
on  the  so-called  'Fox-Goose'  of  Africa. 

2  The    Sheld-Drake   is    still  the    Bargander   or    Bergander   of  some 
districts  of  England  ;  possibly  the  correct  spelling  should  be  Burgander, 
i.e.  Burrow  Duck.     The  word  seems  to  have  nothing  to  do  with  Berg  =  a 
mountain. 

3  Possibly  St  Mary's,  or  even  Coquet  Island. 

4  The  Sheld-Drake  does  not  usually  behave  thus. 


26  Anser 

ego,  hcet  Britannus,  chenerotes  noftros  fatis  noiii :  na 
prceter  duo  Ariftot.  genera,  anferu  adhuc  duo  genera 
noui  in  Britdnia,  ad  quoru  neutrum  Jl  chenerotes  per- 
tinedt,  chenerotes  mihi  penitus  ignotos  effe  ingenue  fa- 
tebor.  Prior  anfer  a  nojlris  hodie  brdta  &  bernicla 
uocatur,  &  fero  anfere  minor  eft,  pec~tore  aliqub  ufq; 

[p.  24]  nigro.  Ccetero  cinerio,  anferum  feroru  more  uolat, 
ftrepit,  paludes  frequetat,  &  fegete  depopulatur.  Caro 
huius  paulb  infuauior  eft,  &  diiiitibus  minus  appe- 
tita.  Nidum  berniclce,  aut  ouum  nemo  uidit:  nee 
mirum,  quum  ftne  parentis  opera  berniclcs  ad  hum 
modu  fpontaneam  habedt  generation^.  Quum  ad  cer- 
tum  tempus,  malus  nauis  in  mari  coputruit,  aut  tabula, 
aut  antemice  abiegnce,  inde  in  principio  ueluti  fungi 
erumput:  in  quibus  temporis  progreffu,  manifeftas 
auiu  figuras  cernere  licebit,  deinde  pluma  ueftitas, 
poftremb  uiuas  &  tiolantes.  Hoc,  ne  cid  fabulofum 
effe  uideatur,  prceter  comune  omniu  gentiu  littoraliu 
Anglice,  Hibernicz  &  Scotics,  teftimoniu  Gyraldus  ille 
prceclarus  hiftoriographus  qui  multb  fcelicius  g_  pro 
fuo  tempore  Hibernics  hiftoriam  confcripfit,  no  aliam 
effe  berniclaru  generation^  teftatur.  Sed,  quum  uulgo 
non  fatis  tutu  uideretur  fidere,  et  Gyraldo  ob  rei  rari- 
tatem  non  fatis  crederem,  dum  hcec,  qua  nunc  fcribo, 
meditarer,  uirum  quendam,  cuius  mihi  perfpec~lij]ima 
integritas  fidem  merebatur,  profejftone  Theologum,  na- 
tione  Hibernum,  nomine  Octauianil,  confutui  num 
Gyraldum  hac  in  re  fide  digmtm  cenferet  ?  qui  per 
ipfum  iurans,  quod  profitebatur  euangelium,  refpondit, 
ueriffimum  effe,  quod  de  generatione  hznus  auis  Gy- 

[p-  25]  raldus  tradidit,  seq;  rudes  adhuc  aues  oculis  iddijfe,  & 
manibus  contreflajfe :  breuify  ft  Londini  menfem  unum 
aut  alteriim  manerem,  aliquot  rudes  auiculas  mihi 
adueflas  curaturu.  Ifta  berniclce  generatio  no  ufq\  adeo 


A  user  27 

Chenerotes  are.  And,  though  I  am  a  Briton,  I  am  not  quite 
sure  about  our  Chenerotes  ;  for  as  yet,  apart  from  the  two 
kinds  that  Aristotle  gives,  I  know  two  sorts  of  Geese  in 
Britain  and  will  frankly  own  that,  if  the  Chenerotes  are  not 
to  belong  to  either  of  them,  they  are  quite  unknown  to  me. 
The  first  Goose  by  our  people  nowadays  is  called  the  Brant 
and  Bernicle,  and  is  a  smaller  bird  than  the  Wild  Goose,  with 
the  breast  partly  black.  The  rest  is  ashen  grey.  It  flies, 
gabbles,  haunts  swamps,  and  devastates  green  crops,  like  the 
Wild  Goose.  Its  flesh  is  somewhat  strong,  and  is  the  less 
sought  after  by  the  rich.  No  one  has  seen  the  Bernicle's 
nest  or  egg,  nor  is  this  wonderful,  since  Bernicles  without 
a  parent's  aid  are  said  to  have  spontaneous  generation  in 
this  way :  When  after  a  certain  time  the  firwood  masts  or 
planks  or  yard-arms  of  a  ship  have  rotted  on  the  sea,  then  fungi, 
as  it  were,  break  out  upon  them  first,  in  which  in  course  of 
time  one  may  discern  evident  forms  of  birds,  which  afterwards 
are  clothed  with  feathers,  and  at  last  become  alive  and  fly. 
Now  lest  this  should  seem  fabulous  to  anyone,  besides  the 
common  evidence  of  all  the  long-shore  men  of  England, 
Ireland,  and  Scotland,  that  renowned  historian  Gyraldus1, 
who  composed  a  history  of  Ireland  in  much  more  happy 
style  than  could  have  been  expected  in  his  time,  bears  witness 
that  the  generation  of  the  Bernicles  is  none  other  than  this. 
But  inasmuch  as  it  seemed  hardly  safe  to  trust  the  vulgar  and 
by  reason  of  the  rarity  of  the  thing  I  did  not  quite  credit 
Gyraldus,  while  I  thought  on  this,  of  which  I  now  am 
writing,  I  took  counsel  of  a  certain  man,  whose  upright 
conduct,  often  proved  by  me,  had  justified  my  trust,  a  theo- 
logian by  profession  and  an  Irishman  by  birth,  Octavian  by 
name,  whether  he  thought  Gyraldus  worthy  of  belief  in  this 
affair.  Who,  taking  oath  upon  the  very  Gospel  which  he 
taught,  answered  that  what  Gyraldus  had  reported  of  the 
generation  of  this  bird  was  absolutely  true,  and  that  with 
his  own  eyes  he  had  beholden  young,  as  yet  but  rudely 
formed,  and  also  handled  them,  and,  if  I  were  to  stay  in 
London  for  a  month  or  two,  that  he  would  take  care  that 
some  growing  chicks  should  be  brought  in  to  me.  This 
curious  generation  of  the  Bernicle  will  not  appear  so  very 
1  Giraldus  Cambrensis,  Topographia  Hibernica  Distinctio  I.  cap.  xv. 


28  Anser 

prodigiofa  illis  uidebitur,  qui  quod  A  riftoteles  de  uolucre 
ephemero  fcripfit,  legerint. 

De  ephimero  autem  Ariftoteles^  libro  quinto  de 
hiftoria  animalium  ita  fcribit.  Hyppanis  fluuius 
apud  Cymerium  Bofphorum  fub  folftitio,  defert 
ueluti  folliculos  acinis  maiores,  quibus  quadru- 
pedes  uolucres  erumpunt  :  quod  genus  animalis 
in  poftmeridianum  2  ufque  diei  tempus  uiuit  & 
uolat  :  mox  defcendente  fole,  macrefcit  & 
languet3:  deinde  occidente,  moritur,  uita  non 
ultra  unum  diem  protra6la  :  unde  ephemerum, 
.  id  eft,  diarium  4  appellatum  eft.  Hec  Ariftotel. 

Quce  fi  uera  funt,  &  tdto  philofopho  digna,  fupe- 
rioris  aids  generationi  non  parum  fidei  adftruent. 
a  folend  Alter  anfer,    de   quo  promift   me  dicluru,   marina 

[p.  26]  aui's  eft,  ex  uenatu  pifcium  uicJitans,  magnitudine 
fuperiore  anfere  paulb  minor:  anferem  tamen  uoce 
&  forma  per  omnia  refert,  nidulatur  in  mari  Scotico, 
in  rupibus  excel/is,  infulce  Baffi,  per  antiphrafim,  opi- 
nor,  ditlcz:  nee  alias  ufpiam  in  tota  Britannia.  Hie 
tanto  amore  fuos  pullos  profequitur,  ut  cum  pueris  per 
f  unes  in  corbibus  ad  auferedos  eos  demiffis,  acerrime 
non  Jine  uitce  periculo  conjlic~tetur.  N  ec  Jilentio  prceter- 
eundum  eft,  ex  adipe  huius  anferis  (eft  enim  infigniter 
adipofus]  unguenttim  a  Scotis  ad  multos  morbos  utilijji- 
mum  fieri,  quod  cum  commageno  a  Plinio  5  ce/ebrato, 
meritb  bonitate  &  remediorum  numero  poteft  certare. 
lam  quu  anferum  genera,  licet  diligentif/ime  inquires, 
apud  Britannos  plura  inuenire  non  pojfim,  chenerotes 

1  Bk  v.  107. 


3  These  two  words  are  not  in  the  original  Greek. 

4  This  explanation  is  not  given  by  Aristotle.     We  have  here 
an  instance  of  the  insertions  common  in  old  authors,  which  will 
not  be  noticed  hereafter  in  each  case,  as  being  too  numerous. 
Another  instance  is  found  with  regard  to  '  Albicilla  '  (p.  30). 

5  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  xxii. 


Anser  29 

marvellous  to  those  who  may  have  read  what  Aristotle 
wrote  about  the  flying  creature  called  Ephemerus.  Now 
Aristotle  writes  thus  of  the  Ephemerus  in  the  fifth  book  of 
his  History  of  Animals : — 

"The  river  Hyppanis1,  near  the  Cymerian  Bos- 
phorus2  when  the  solstice  is  nigh,  brings  down  small 
pouches,  as  it  were,  each  larger  than  a  grape,  from 
which  four-footed  flying  creatures  burst ;  a  sort  of 
animal  which  lives  and  flies  until  the  afternoon  of  the 
same  day,  but  presently  at  the  sun's  going  down 
withers  and  languishes,  and  finally,  at  the  sun's  setting, 
dies,  lasting  no  longer  than  a  single  day,  whence  it 
is  called  Ephemerus,  that  is,  the  creature  of  a  day." 
Thus  Aristotle  writes. 

Now  if  these  things  are  true,  and  worthy  of  the  great 
philosopher,  they  will  impart  no  little  credibility  as  to  the 
generation  of  the  aforesaid  bird. 

The  second  Goose,  of  which  I  promised  I  would  speak, 
is  a  sea-bird,  which  lives  by  hunting  fishes,  somewhat  less 
in  size  than  the  Goose  given  above  ;  and  yet  in  voice  and 
aspect  it  recalls  the  Goose  in  every  way  ;  it  nests  within  the 
Scottish  sea,  upon  the  lofty  cliffs  of  the  Bass  Isle — so  called, 
as  I  opine,  by  an  antiphrasis3 — and  nowhere  else  in  all 
Britain.  This  bird  looks  to  its  young  with  so  much  loving 
care,  that  it  will  fight  most  gallantly  with  lads  that  are  let 
down  in  baskets  by  a  rope  to  carry  them  away,  not  without 
danger  of  its  life.  Nor  must  we  fail  to  mention  that  a  salve, 
most  valuable  for  many  a  disease,  is  made  by  Scots  from 
the  fat  of  this  Goose  (for  it  is  wonderfully  full  of  fat)  which 
may  deservedly  rival  the  Commagenum  vaunted  much  by 
Pliny,  in  its  virtue  and  the  number  of  its  cures. 

Now  since,  though  searching  with  the  greatest  care, 
I  cannot  find  any  more  kinds  of  Geese  among  Britons, 

1  Now  the  Bog. 

2  Between  the  Sea  of  Azov  and  the  Black  Sea. 

3  As  if  the  derivation  was  from  the  French  <foy  =  low. 


3O  A  quila 

(qui  ab  amore  mihi  nomen  habere  uidentur),  aut  ber- 
niclce  ant  Baffani  anferes  funt,  aut  mihi  prorfus  ignoti. 

DE   AQVILA. 

aero?,  aquila,  Anglice  an  egle,  Gennanice  eitt  aw, 
ober  em  abler. 

ARISTOTELES1. 

Aquilarum  plura  funt  genera.  Vnum,  quod 
[p.  27]  pigargus  ab  albicante  cauda  dicitur,  ac  fi  albi- 
cillam  nomines.  gaudet  hec  planis,  &  lucis  et 
oppidis.  Hinnularia2  a  nonnullis  uocata  cog- 
nomine  eft.  montes  etiam,  fyluam^,  fuis  freta 
uiribus,  petit,  reliqua  genera  raro  plana  &  lucos 
adeunt. 

Pygargus,   qnum   Jit   primum    aquilarum    genus, 

Germanorum  literatores  turpiter  errant,  qui  pygargum 

fuum    trappum  faciunt,  qui  apud  Ariftotelem    tetrix, 

&  Plinio  tetrao  eft,  ut  poftea  docebo.     Pygargus  A  nglo- 

an  erne.          rum  lingua,  nifi  fallar,  erna  uocatur. 

DE    PLANGA    AUT    CLANGA    EX    ARISTOTELE3. 

'Alterum  genus  magnitudine  fecundnm  & 
uiribus,  clanga4  aut  planga  nomine,  faltus  & 
conualles,  &  lacus  incolere  folitum,  cognomi- 
ne  anataria5,  &  morphna,  a  macula  pennse, 
quafi  neuia6  dixeris,  cuius  etiam  meminit  Ho- 
mer, in  exitu  Priami 7. 

[p.  28]  PLINIUS8    DE    MORPHNA    SIVE    PLANGA. 

Morphnos,  quam  Homerus  &  percnon  uocat, 
aliqui  &  plancum  &  anataria,  fecuda  magnitu- 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  in.  2  vefipo$6vov  =  fawn-slayer. 

3  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  112. 

4  For  7r\ciyyos  some  texts  have  ir*hdvos.     The  word  'clanga' 
does  not  seem  to  be  represented  in  the  Greek. 

5  vrjTTo(f)6vos  =  duck-slayer. 

6  This  explanation  is  not  in  Aristotle. 

7  Iliad,  Bk  xxiv.  1.  316.  8  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  iii. 


Aquila  3 1 

the  Chenerotes  (which  seem  to  me  to  get  their  name  from 
"love"1)  are  either  Bernicles,  or  the  Geese  of  the  Bass,  or 
are  decidedly  unknown  to  me, 

OF  THE  AQUILA. 

aero?,  aquila,  in  English  an  eagle,  in  German  ein  arn,  or 
ein  adler. 

ARISTOTLE. 

Of  Aquilae  there  are  several  kinds.  One  which 
is  called  Pygargus  from  its  whitish  tail,  as  though 
you  were  to  name  it  Albicilla,  loves  plains,  groves, 
and  towns.  For  by-name  it  is  called  by  certain  Hin- 
nularia.  It  even  seeks  the  mountains  and  the  wood, 
relying  on  its  might.  The  other  kinds  seldom  ap- 
proach the  plains  artd  groves. 

Now,  seeing  that  Pygargus  is  the  first  kind  of  the  Aquilae, 
the  German  scribblers  err  disgracefully,  who  reckon  it  their 
Trapp,  which  is  the  Tetrix  in  the  works  of  Aristotle  and 
the  Tetrao  of  Pliny,  as  I  shall  shew  afterwards.  Pygargus, 
if  I  err  not,  in  the  English  tongue  is  called  an  Erne. 

OF  THE  PLANGA  OR  CLANGA,  FROM  ARISTOTLE. 

Another  kind,  second  in  size  and  strength,  by 
name  Clanga  or  Planga,  generally  haunts  glades  and 
valleys  and  lakes.  It  has  the  by-name  Anataria,  and 
Morphna  from  the  marking  on  the  wing(  as  though 
you  should  say  spotted.  Of  this  Homer  makes  men- 
tion in  the  scene  of  Priam's  death. 

PLINY  ON  THE  MORPHNA  OR  PLANGA. 

Morphnos,  which  Homer  also  calls  Percnos,  some 
name  Plancus  and  Anataria,  second  in  size  and 

1  A  very  doubtful  derivation. 


32  Aquila 

dine  &  ui,  huiccj*  uita  circa  lacus.  Ifla  circa 
ftagna  aquaticas  aues  appetit  mergetes  fe  fub- 
inde,  donee  fopitas  laffatascj*  rapiat.  Spedlanda 
dimicatio,  aue  ad  perfugia  littorum  tendente, 

t  in  deie-  maxime  fi  condenfa  harundo  fit:  aquila  finde 
ic~tu  abigente  ala,  &  cum  appetit  in  lacus 
cadente,  umbramcjj  fuam  nanti  fub  aqua  a  littore 
oftendente  :  rurfus  aue  in  diuerfa,  &  ubi  minime 
fe  credat  expectari,  emergente.  Haec  caufa  eft 
gregatim  auibus  natandi,  quia  plures  fimul  non 

t  hoftem       infeftantur:  refperfu  pinnaru  fhofbe  obcaecantes. 

alias  abudat. 

[p.  29]  Saepe    &    aquilse    ipfse    non    tollerantes  pondus 
apprehenfum,  una  merguntur.      Haec  Plinius. 

Omnia,  qua  Ariftoteles  &  Plinius  percno  Jiaclenus 
tribuerunt,  Anglorum  balbushardo  conueniunt,  Jl  folam 
magnitudinem  exceperis,  qua  Jl  alia  adfuerint,  hie  for- 
tajfis  non  oberit.  eft  autem  ilia,  qitam  anatariam  effe 
conijcio,  auis  buteone  maior  &  longior,  neno  albo  in 
capite,  colore  fufco  proximo,  ad  ripas  fluininum,  ftag- 
norum  et  paludium  femper  degens,  uiuit  ex  uenatu 
anatum  et  gallinannn  nigrarum,  quas  Angli  coutas 
nominal.  Venationem  hanc,  cuius  meminit  Plinius, 
inter  aquilam  iftam  (Ji  aquila  dicenda  Jit)  &  aues 
aquaticas,  non  folum  ego  f&pijjime  uidi,  fed  infiniti 
apud  Anglos  quotidie  uident.  Si  qua  terra  porti- 
uncula  fuper  aquas  inter  arundineta  emineat,  in  hac 
folet  nidum  facere,  ut  quoniam  uolatu  non  admodum 
ualet,  a  prceda  non  procul  abjit.  Aues  fubitb  adoritur, 
&  Jic  capit.  Cuniculos  ijla  interdum  etiam  dilaniat. 
Nunc  an  ifta  anataria  Jit  nee  ne,  doc~lis  itiris  iudi- 
candum  propono. 


Aquila  33 

strength ;  it  passes  its  life  round  lakes.  By  pools 
it  chases  water-birds,  which  dive  from  time  to  time, 
until  it  catches  them  sleepy  and  weary.  The  con- 
test is  a  sight  to  see,  the  quarry  seeking  refuge 
on  the  shore,  chiefly  where  reeds  are  thick,  and 
thence  the  Aquila  drives  it  away  with  a  stroke  of 
the  wing  and  plunges  in  the  lake  as  it  swoops  from 
above,  shewing  its  shadow  to  the  bird  as  it  swims 
under  water  from  the  shore.  Again  the  latter  tries 
a  different  place  and  comes  up  where  it  thinks  that 
it  will  least  be  marked.  This  is  the  cause  of  birds 
swimming  in  flocks,  for  they  are  not  molested  when 
in  companies,  and  blind  their  enemy  by  splashing  with 
their  wings.  The  Aquilae  themselves,  moreover,  often 
are  immersed,  not  being  able  to  support  the  weight 
that  they  have  clutched.  Thus  Pliny. 

All  things  that  Aristotle  and  Pliny  have  attributed  to 
the  bird  Percnos  so  far  well  agree  with  the  Balbushard  of 
the  English1,  if  one  may  except  its  size  alone,  and  if  the 
rest  be  present,  that  perhaps  should  not  stand  in  the  way. 
Now  the  bird  which  I  apprehend  to  be  the  Anataria,  being 
bigger  and  longer  than  the  Buteo,  with  a  white  patch  upon 
the  head,  and  nearly  fuscous  in  colour,  always  haunts  the 
banks  of  rivers,  pools,  and  swamps ;  it  lives  by  hunting 
Ducks  and  those  black  fowls  which  Englishmen  call  Couts. 
The  conflict  of  which  Pliny  makes  mention  above  between 
this  Eagle  (if  it  should  be  called  an  Eagle)  and  the  water-birds 
I  have  seen  often,  and  not  I  alone,  but  countless  Englishmen 
witness  it  daily.  If  anywhere  a  little  space  of  ground  rises 
among  the  reed-beds,  there  the  bird  is  wont  to  make  a  nest, 
that,  since  in  power  of  flight  it  is  not  very  strong,  it  may 
not  be  far  distant  from  its  prey.  It  suddenly  attacks  birds, 
and  thus  takes  them.  It  also  sometimes  butchers  coneys. 
Now  whether  this  may  be  the  Anataria  or  not  I  put  it  to  the 
learned  to  decide. 

1  The  Bald-Buzzard  or  Marsh-Harrier  (Circus  ceruginosus}. 
T.  3 


34  Aquila  —  Haliaetus 

DE    TERTIO    GENERE    EX    ARISTOTELE  \ 

Tertium  genus  colore  nigricas,  unde  nomen 

[p-  3°]  accepit,    ut  pulla    &   fuluia  2   uocetur,    magnitu- 

dine  minima,  fed  uiribus  omnium  preftantiffima. 

Haec  colit  montes  &  fyluas  &  leporaria  cogno- 

minatur. 

PLINIUS3. 

Melasnaetos.  Melaenaetos  a  Graecis  dic~ta,  eademc^  ualeria, 
minima  magnitudine,  uiribus  praecipua,  colore 
nigricans  :  fola  aquilarum  foetus  fuos  alit,  caeterae 
fugant  :  fola  fine  clangore,  fine  murmuratione. 

DE    QUARTO    GENERE    EX    ARISTOT.  4 

percno-  Quartum    genus    percnopterus    ab    alarum 

pterus.  notis,  capite  albicante,  corpore  minore,  quam 
caeterae  adhuc  dictae,  hsec  eft.  Sed  breuioribus 
alis,  cauda  longiore,  uulturis  fpeciem  hec  refert. 
Subaquila5,  &  aquila  montana  cognominatur.  In- 
[p.  31]  colit  lucos,  degener,  nee  uicijs  caeterarum  caret, 
&  bonorum,  quae  illae  obtinent,  expers  eft  : 
quippe  quae  a  coruo,  caeteris^  id  genus  auibus 
uerberetur,  fugetur,  capiatur.  Grauis  enim  eft, 
ui6lu  iners  :  examinata  6  fert  corpora  :  famelica 
femper  eft,  et  querula,  clamitat,  &  clangit. 

DE   HALITE  TO. 

Haliczetus    Greece    &    Latine,   Anglice   an   of  prey, 
Germanice  ett 


1  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  113. 

2  Aristotle  has  merely:   KoXflrat  Se  fj.e\avdfros  KCU  \ayw(p6vos. 

3  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  iii. 

4  Hist.  An.  Bk  IX.  114;  a  very  free  version. 

5  Some  texts  read  yviraUros  for  i 

6  Lege  '  exanimata.'     Aristotle  has  T<I 


A  quila — Hali&etus  3  5 

OF    THE   THIRD    KIND    FROM    ARISTOTLE. 

The  third  kind  in  colour  is  blackish,  whence  it 
has  received  its  name,  so  that  the  bird  is  called  Pulla 
and  Fulvia,  in  size  the  least  of  all  and  yet  chiefest 
in  strength.  It  haunts  mountains  and  woods,  and  is 
called  also  Leporaria. 

PLINY. 

The  bird  called  Melaenaetos  among  the  Greeks, 
which  is  the  same  as  the  Valeria,  is  very  small  in  size, 
but  chief  in  strength,  in  colour  blackish  :  of  the  Aquilae 
this  kind  alone  fosters  its  young,  the  others  drive  them 
off :  it  is  the  only  one  without  a  scream,  without  a  softer 
note. 

OF    THE    FOURTH    KIND    FROM    ARISTOTLE. 

The  fourth  kind,  called  Percnopterus,  from  having 
spots  upon  the  wings,  is  whitish  on  the  head  ;  it  has 
a  smaller  body  than  the  other  sorts  spoken  of  hitherto. 
But  with  its  shorter  wings  and  longer  tail  it  has  the 
aspect  of  a  Vulture.  It  is  called  besides  Subaquila 
and  Mountain  Aquila.  It  dwells  in  woodlands,  an 
ignoble  bird,  not  lacking  the  bad  qualities  of  others, 
but  void  of  the  good  that  they  possess.  For  it  is 
beaten,  put  to  flight,  and  caught  by  the  Raven  and 
by  other  birds  like  that.  Further  it  is  unwieldy, 
sluggish  to  get  food,  and  carries  off  dead  bodies  ;  it 
is  always  ravenous  and  querulous  ;  it  cries  continually 
and  screams. 

OF  THE  HALLEETUS. 

Haliaeetus  in  Greek  and  Latin,  in  English  an  Osprey, 
in  German  eyn  visharn. 

3—2 


3  6  Haliaetus — A  quila — A  rdea 

PLINIUS1. 

Supereft  Haliaeetus,  clariffima  oculorum  acie, 
librans  ex  alto  fefe  uifoc^  in  mari  pifce,  prseceps 
in  eu  ruens,  &  difcuffis  pe6iore  aquis  rapiens. 

ARISTOTELES  2. 

Haliaeetos,  hoc    eft,    marina  aquila,  ceruice 
[p.  32]  magna  &  craffa,  alis  curuantibus,  &  cauda  lata 
eft.     Moratur  haec  in  littoribus  &  oris.     Acci- 
dit  huic  faepius,   ut    quum  ferre,    quod  ceperit, 
nequeat,  in  gurgitem  demergatur. 

Haliceetos  apiid  Anglos  hodie  notior  eft,  quam 
multi  uclint)  qid  in  uiuarijs  pifces  alunt:  nam  pifces 
omnes  breui  tempore  aufert.  Pifcatorcs  noftrates  efcis 
fallendis  pifcibus  deftinatis,  Jialiceeti  adipem  illinunt, 
aiit  iminifcent,  putantes  hoc  argumento  efcam  efficaciore 
futuram,  quod  haliceeto  fefe  in  aere  librdte,  pifces  quot- 
quot  fiibfunt  (iiatura  aquila  ad  hoc  cogente,  ut  cre- 
ditur)  fefe  refupinet,  &  uetres  albicantes,  ut  quern 
liberet,  eligeret,  exhibedt. 

DE    AQUILA    VERA    EX     ARISTOTELE 3. 

Sextum  genus  gnefmm,  id  eft,  ueru  germa- 
gie      numc^  appellant.     Vnu  hoc  ex  omni  aquilarum 
German.       genere,  ueri  incorruptiA  ortus  creditur.     Maxi- 

eyn  edel  arn.  °  .  MI 

ma  omnium    aquilarum    haec    elt,    maior  etiam 
[p.  33]  quam  offifraga 4 :  fed  caeteras  aquilas  uel  fefqui- 
altera    portione    excedit,  colore    ruffa    eft,  con- 
fpeclu  rara. 

DE  ARDEA. 

e/3ft)5fco?,  ardea,  Anglice  an  heron.  Germanice  etyn 
re^qer. 

1  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  x.  cap.  iii. 

2  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  115,  a  free  version. 

3  Hist.  An.  Bkix.  116. 

4  Gaza  translates  ^vj\  by  ossifraga,  but  it  is  very  doubtful 
what  bird  the  ossifraga  really  was.    Possibly  it  should  be  identi- 
fied with  the  Lammergeier  (cf.  Prof.  Newton,  Diet.  Birds,  p.  660). 


Haliceetus  —  Aquila  —  A  rdea  3  7 

PLINY. 

The  Haliaeetus  remains,  with  eyesight  of  the  keen- 
est, poising  itself  aloft  when  it  spies  fishes  in  the  sea 
below,  then  dashing  headlong  on  them  and  securing 
them,  the  waters  being  parted  by  its  breast. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Haliseetos,  that  is  to  say  Sea  Eagle,  has 
the  neck  both  big  and  thick,  bowed  wings,  and 
a  broad  tail.  It  bides  upon  the  sea-coast  and  the 
shores.  It  often  happens,  when  it  cannot  lift  what 
it  has  taken,  that  it  is  submerged  beneath  the  tide. 

The  Osprey  is  a  bird  much  better  known  to-day  to 
Englishmen  than  many  who  keep  fish  in  stews  would 
wish  ;  for  within  a  short  time  it  bears  off  every  fish. 
Our  anglers  smear  or  mix  their  bait  with  Osprey's  fat, 
arguing  that  thus  the  bait  will  prove  more  efficacious  from 
the  fact  that,  when  the  Osprey  hovers  in  the  air,  whatever 
fishes  be  below  turn  up  and  shew  their  whitish  bellies  (as  it 
is  believed,  the  nature  of  the  Aquila  compelling  them  to 
this),  that  it  may  choose  that  one  which  it  prefers. 

OF  THE  TRUE  AQUILA  FROM  ARISTOTLE. 

The  sixth  kind  men  call  Genuine,  or  true  and 
thoroughbred.  Of  all  the  various  kinds  of  Aquilae 
this  is  the  only  one  that  is  believed  to  be  of  true 
and  unstained  origin.  This  is  the  largest  of  all 
Aquilse  and  bigger  even  than  the  Ossifrage,  for  it 
surpasses  by  one  half  as  much  the  other  Aquilse  ; 
in  colour  it  is  reddish  brown,  but  it  is  rarely  seen. 


OF  THE  ARDEA. 
o9,   ardea,    in    English    a    heron,    in    German    eyn 


reyger. 


38  Ardea 

ARISTOTELES1. 

Ardearum  tria  funt  genera,  pella,  alba,  ftel- 
laris,  piger  cognomine.  Pellse  coitus  difficilis 
eft  :  uociferatur  enim,  &  fanguinem  ex  oculis 
(ut  aiunt)  emittit  cum  coit  ;  parit  etiam  segre 

Pella.  fummocj*  cum  dolore.  Pella  fagax  2  &  ccense 

gerula  eft,  &  operofa  3.  Agere  interdiu  folet  : 
colore  tamen  &  prauo  &  aluo  humida.  Reli- 
quarum  duarum,  alba  colore  eft  pulchro,  &  coit, 
&  nidulatur  &  parit  probe,  pafcitur  paludibus, 

Stellaris.  lacu,  campis  &  pratis.  Sed  ftellaris  piger  cogno- 
[p-  34]  minata,  (in  fabula  est,  ut  olim  e  feruo  in  auem 
tranfierit)  atque,  ut  cognome  fonat,  iners  ocio- 
facj*  eft.  Phoici  appellatae4,  peculiare  prse  cae- 
teris  eft,  ut  oculos  potiffimum  appetat5.  Petit 
lacus  &  fluuios  ardea  6  &  albardeola,  quae  mag- 
nitudine  minor  eft,  roftro  lato,  porreclxxj*. 

Pella  apud  A  nglos  in  exceljis  arboribus,  no  procul 

a  ripis  fluminnm  crefcentibus  nidum  facit.     Superior 

The  blue       pars  corporis  cyanea  eft,   inferior  autem    nouihil  can- 

heron.  dicat,    uentris    excremetis   liquidioribns    imiadentes   fe 

fubitb  aquilas,  aut  accipitres  abigit,  &  fe  ita  defendit. 

Vidi  &  Jiuiiis  generis,  licet   raras,   albas,   qua  neque 

corporis   magnitudine,  neqne  figura,  fed  folo  colore,  a 

fnperiore  diftnlerunt.      Vifa  eft  etiam  alba  cum  cyanea 

apud  A  nglos  nidulari,  &  prolem  gignere.     Quare  eiuf- 

dem  effe  fpeciei,fatis  conftat.     Albardeolarn,  quce  Greece 

a  cryel  heron  XevrcepwSios  dicitur,  femel  tantuni  in  Italia  nidi,  pella 

or  a  duuarf    ^lultb  minor  eft,  &  hominis  confpet~lu  no  perinde  atq; 

a  myre  cceriilea  fugit.     Hdc  ft    no    uidiffem,    Angloru   shoue- 

dromble. 


2  Hist.  An,  Bk  ix.  93. 

3  Aristotle's  word  is  eVaypos1,  which  Sundevall  renders  by  the 
Swedish  equivalent  of  '  forages  round  the  fields.' 

4  Hist.  An.  Bk  IX.  94. 

5  This  seems  to  mean  that  the  (f>a>v£   eats  other  creatures' 
eyes,  for  Aristotle  says  :    /idXto-ra  yap   eo-nv   o0$aA/zo/3dpo$'  ra>v 
6pvi6(*)v. 

6  Hist,  An.  Bk  vm.  46. 


Ardea  39 

ARISTOTLE, 

Of  Ardeae  there  are  three  kinds,  Pella,  Alba,  and 
Stellaris,  but  the  last  has  the  by-name  of  Piger.  The 
coupling  of  Pella  is  difficult,  for  it  screams  while  it 
couples  and  (they  say)  emits  blood  from  its  eyes  :  it 
also  brings  forth  painfully  and  with  extreme  distress. 
The  Pella  is  sagacious,  quick  at  getting  food1,  and 
always  busy.  It  is  wont  to  be  astir  by  day  ;  yet  it 
is  mean  in  colour,  with  the  belly  wet.  Of  the  re- 
maining two  the  Alba,  fair  of  colour,  couples,  nests 
and  brings  forth  well ;  it  feeds  in  marshes,  on  a  lake, 
in  fields  and  meadow-ground.  But  the  Stellaris,  by- 
named  Lazy  (in  the  fable  it  is  said  of  old  to  have 
been  changed  from  a  slave  to  a  bird),  as  its  by-name 
imports,  is  slow  and  indolent.  The  bird  called  Phoix 
has  beyond  all  others  this  peculiarity  that  it  especially 
attacks  the  eyes.  The  Ardea  and  the  Albardeola, 
which  is  of  smaller  size  and  has  a  broad  and  elongated 
bill,  seek  lakes  and  rivers. 

The  Pella  builds  its  nest  in  England  on  the  lofty  trees 
that  grow  not  far  from  the  banks  of  streams.  The  upper 
part  of  the  body  is  blue,  the  lower  is,  however,  somewhat 
white.  It  routs  Eagles  or  Hawks,  if  they  attack  it  suddenly, 
by  very  liquid  mutings  of  the  belly,  and  thereby  defends 
itself.  Of  this  kind  I  have  seen  some  white,  though  they  are 
rare,  which  differed  from  the  aforesaid  neither  in  their  size 
nor  shape  of  body,  but  in  colour  only.  Furthermore  the 
white  has  been  observed  in  England  to  nest  with  the  blue, 
and  to  bear  offspring.  Wherefore  it  is  clear  that  they  are 
of  one  species.  I  have  only  once  seen — and  that  was  in 
Italy — the  Albardeola,  which  is  called  Xeu/cepeoSto?  in  Greek ; 
it  is  much  smaller  than  the  Pella  and  by  no  means  shuns  the 
sight  of  man  so  much  as  does  the  blue.  Had  I  not  seen  it, 
I  should  have  declared  the  Albardeola  to  be  the  English 

1  That  is,  for  its  young. 


4O  A  rdea  —  A  urivittis  —  A  ttagen 

lardam   albardeold  effe    iudicaffem.     Stellaris  eft,  qua 
[p-  35]  Angli  buttourum,  aut  bittourum,  &  Germani  pittourum 

abuttour        &  rofdommum  nominant  :  nam  aids  eft  toto  corporis 

em  pittour.      7    ,  •;  /  •          /  •      •      /-     •  /  •  •  /-  • 

ein  rofdo.       habitu   ardeis   reaquis  ftmihs,  ex  pifcium    uenatu   ad 

ripas  palladium  &  amnium  uiuens,  pigerrima  &  ftoli- 
dijfima,  ut  quce  in  retia  ab  equo  faclicio  agi  poteft 
facilime.  Colore  eft  fere,  quantum  memini,  phafiani, 
roftro  limo  indito,  afininos  ronchos  uoce  refert:  cculos 
hominum  auidijfimc  omnium  aiiium  appetit.  Quare 
ft  quid  impediat,  quo  minus  ftellaris  effe  pqffit,  (quod 
Phoix.  mi/ii  nondum  cernere  datum  eft}  phoica  effe  oportebit, 

quam  A  riftoteles  oculos  maxime  appetere  teftatur,  quan- 
quam  &  cater  ce  ardece  idem  facere  fcepe  uif&funt, 

DE  AVRIVITTE. 

Xpfo-oyLttVpt?,  no  ut  quidam  codices  habent,  pvo-o/nrj- 
rpiis,  auriuittis,  Anglice  a  gold  finc/ie,  Germanice  ei)ii 
biftelftucf,  ober  e\)u  fttgelt^. 

Auriuittis.  Auriuittis    una    eft    ex   auiculis,    qua   carduorum 

femine  uictitanP,  &  uermes  etiam  oblatos,  non  attingunt. 
Alij  goldfincam,  aut  difteluincam,  fpmum,  alij  cardue- 
lem  effe  uolunt.  Sed  ft  quis,  ex  fpiniuoris  prceter  Jianc 
aliam  aurea  uitta  redimitam  oftederit,  cui  magis  auri- 
uittis  nomen  competat,  quam  huic,  opinionem  meant 
facile  patiar  explodi,  alioqui  non  ttideo,  quin  digna  fit, 
qua  probetur. 

[p.  36]  DE   ATTAGENE. 

Array  T)P,  array  as,  attagen,  attagena. 

A  ttagen,  ut  fcribit  A  riftoteles,  gallinagini  fimilis 
eft  color  e.  Attagenam  uarijs  diftinctam  ejfe  maculis, 
Ariftophanes*  his  uerfibus  teftatur  : 

Si  quis  ex  uobis  erit  fugitiuus  atq\  uftus  notis, 
A  ttagen  fane  apud  nos  uarius  appellabitur. 


1  Aristotle's  groups  of  Birds  are  as  follows:  (i) 
(crooked-clawed)  ;    (2)    o-KcoA^Ko^uya    (worm-eating)  ;    (3)   a<av- 
6o(f>dya   (eating    thistle  seeds)  ;    (4)    o-Knrocfrdya  (?  grub-eating)  ; 
(5)     Tre/jio-repoeifi?)     (dove-like)  ;     (6)     <r\;t£o7ro§a    (cleft-footed)  ; 
(7)  (rreyavoTToda  (wholly  webbed)  ;   (8)  /3ape'a  (heavy,  i.e.  ground 
kinds).     A  few  Birds,  however,  can  hardly  be  placed  under  any 
of  these. 

2  Ave.s,  11.  761—762. 


A  rdea — A  urivittis — A  ttagen  4 1 

Shovelard1.  Stellaris  is  that  kind  which  Englishmen  denomi- 
nate buttour  or  bittour,  and  the  Germans  call  pittour  or 
rosdom.  Now  it  is  a  bird  like  other  Herons  in  its  state 
of  body  generally,  living  by  hunting  fishes  on  the  banks 
of  swamps  and  rivers,  very  sluggish  and  most  stupid,  so  that 
it  can  very  easily  be  driven  into  nets  by  the  use  of  a  stalking 
horse.  So  far  as  I  remember,  it  is  nearly  of  the  colour  of 
a  Pheasant,  and  the  beak  is  smeared  with  mud  ;  it  utters 
brayings  like  those  of  an  ass.  Of  all  birds  it  aims  at  mens' 
eyes  most  readily.  Wherefore  if  anything  hinders  this  kind 
from  being  the  Stellaris  (which  is  not  yet  given  to  me  to  see) 
it  ought  to  be  the  Phoix,  inasmuch  as  Aristotle  testifies  that 
it  aims  chiefly  at  the  eyes,  though  other  Ardeae  also  often 
seem  to  do  the  same. 

OF   THE    AURIVITTIS. 

XpucroyiuT/K?  (not  as  some  texts  have  it  pva-ofjLtjTpijs), 
aurivittis,  in  English  a  gold  finche,  in  German  eyn  distel- 
finck  or  eyn  stigelitz. 

The  Aurivittis  is  one  of  the  small  birds  that  feed  on 
seeds  of  thistles,  and  do  not  touch  worms  even  when  offered 
to^them.  Some  will  have  it  that  the  Goldfinc  or  the  Distel- 
vinc  is  but  the  Spinus2,  some  the  Carduelis.  But  if  anyone 
can  shew  another  of  the  thistle-eating  birds  save  this,  girt 
with  a  golden  band,  to  which  the  name  of  Aurivittis  is  more 
fitting  than  to  this,  I  gladly  will  allow  my  opinion  to  be 
ignored,  but  otherwise,  I  do  not  see  why  it  should  not  be 
worthy  of  approval. 

OF  THE  ATTAGEN. 

'Arrayrjv,  arrdya^,  attagen,  attagena. 

The  Attagen,  as  Aristotle  writes,  is  like  the  Gallinago 
in  colour.  And  Aristophanes  bears  witness  in  these  lines 
that  the  Attagena  is  marked  with  varied  spots: — 

"  If  any  of  you  be  a  runaway  and  branded  with  the 
marks,  he  shall  assuredly  be  called  with  us  the  spotted 
Attagen." 

1  That  is,  the  Spoonbill  of  modern  books  (Platalea  lencorodia],  while 
the  buttour  is  of  course  the  Bittern  (Botaurus  stellaris] 

2  Turner  himself  considered  Spinus  to  be  the  Greenfinch  (cf.  p.  85  of 
the  original). 


42  Attagen 

PLTNIUS1    DE    ATTAGENE. 

Attagen  maxime  lonius  celebratur,  uocalis 
alias,  captus  uero  obmutefcit,  quondam  exifti- 
matus  inter  raras  aues.  lam  &  in  Gallia  Hi- 
fpanicuj*  capitur,  &  per  alpes. 

PETRUS  GvLLius2. 

Attagen,  eft  perdice  paulo  maior,  uerficolo- 
ribus  pi6ta  plumis  in  dorfo,  &  color  ruffus  eft, 
uefcitur  grano,  breuibus  eft  alis,  &  puluera- 
tor  eft. 

Falluntur   igitur  Britannici  ludimagiftri,  qui  fun 

Wodcoccum  attagenem  faciunt,  qui  foils  uefcitur   uer- 

mibus,  & grana  nunquam  attingit.    An  attagenes  apud 

[p-  37]  Anglos  inneniantur  ncc'ne,  multum  fane  ambigo.     nam 

qni  attagenem  defcribunt,  marem  a  fcemina  non  fepa- 

rant.     nnde  colligo  eundem  fuiffe  color  em  ^  &  eandem 

figurant   marls  &  foemince.     C&ternm   in   hoc   auium 

genere,  quod  apud  nos  ad  attagenis  formam  proxime 

accedit,  mas  a  foemina  ita  differt   ut  duornm  generu 

iftiufmodi     reru     inperito     uideri    pojjint,      Vtranque 

tamen  auem  defcribam. 

Mas  gallo  domeftico  paulo  minor,  tot  us  niger  eft, 
except  a  ea  parte  caudce,  quce  podicem  tegit>  ea  enim  alba 
eft.  Cceteru  nigredo  Indus  nonniJdl  fplendefcit,  ad  enm 
fere  modum,  quo  columborum  nigrorum  torques  circa 
colla  fplendefcunt.  ad  uiriditatem  igitur  proxime  ac- 
cedit.  in  capite  rubrum  quendain  Jiabet^  fed  carneiini 
cirru,  &  circa  genas  duos  habet  uehiti  lobos  rubrost 
&  eos  carneos.  Foemina  tot  a  maculis  diftinc~ta  eft,  & 
a  perdice,  nifi  maior  effet,  &  ruffa  magis,  cegre  dignofci 

1  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  xlviii. 

2  Petrus   Gyllius   was   the   author   of    the   work  De  vi  et 
natura  Auinialium  etc.  Lugd.  Bat.  1533. 


Attagen  43 

PLINY  OF  THE  ATTAGEN. 

The  Attagen  is  most  renowned  as  an  Ionian  bird  ; 
it  usually  is  noisy,  in  captivity  however  it  is  dumb. 
In  former  times  it  was  considered  rare,  but  now  it 
is  taken  in  Gaul,  in  Spain,  and  on  the  Alps. 

PETRUS  GYLLIUS. 

The  Attagen  is  rather  larger  than  the  Perdix,  and 
is  marked  with  particoloured  feathers  on  the  back,  in 
colour  it  is  reddish,  and  it  feeds  on  grain.  It  has 
short  wings,  and  rolls  itself  in  dust. 

Accordingly  our  British  schoolmasters  are  wrong  who 
make  their  Woodcock  the  Attagen,  which  lives  only  on 
worms  and  never  touches  grain.  Indeed  I  seriously  doubt 
whether  Attagenes  be  found  in  England  or  not,  for  those  who 
give  descriptions  of  the  Attagen,  do  not  distinguish  the  male 
from  the  female,  whence  I  infer  that  they  have  the  same 
colours  and  are  like  in  form.  But  in  the  kind  of  bird  which 
with  us  comes  the  nearest  to  the  Attagen  in  form,  the  male 
differs  so  greatly  from  the  female  that  they  might  appear  to 
be  of  separate  kinds  to  the  man  inexperienced  in  things  like 
this.  Nevertheless  I  will  describe  each  bird. 

The  male1  is  somewhat  less  than  a  domestic  cock  and 
is  entirely  black,  save  that  part  of  the  tail  which  overlies 
the  vent,  for  that  is  white.  Moreover  the  black  colour  of 
the  bird  is  somewhat  glossy,  very  nearly  as  the  collar  round 
the  neck  of  our  black  pigeons  is.  So  it  approaches  very 
near  to  green.  Upon  its  head  it  has  a  red  but  fleshy  sort 
of  comb2,  and  round  its  cheeks  two  red  lobes  as  it  were 
and  those  fleshy.  The  hen  is  wholly  marked  with  spots, 
and,  were  she  not  a  bigger  bird  and  more  rufous,  could 
scarcely  be  distinguished  from  a  Partridge.  Both  frequent 

1  Turner  here  undoubtedly  refers  to  the  Blackcock  (Tetrao  tetrix). 

2  The  Blackcock  has  two  erectile  patches  of  red  skin  over  the  eyes, 
which  in  the  breeding  season  even  reach  above  the  top  of  the  head  ;  and 
the  word  '  cirrum '  must  be  taken  to  mean  such  a  patch  here. 


44  A  ttagen — A  tricapilla 

pojfit.  In  defertis  facts  &  plants,  erica  potiffimum 
conjitis,  ambo  degunt.  grano  uefcuntur,  et  fummis 
ericce  ger minibus.  Breues  Jiabens  alas,  &  brenes  fa- 
ciunt  twlatus.  Hcec  auis,  fi  attagen  no  fit,  gallina 
uidetur  ejfe  Varronis  riijlica.  Erafmus  in  Adagio, 
Attagence  nouilunium,  aitagenam  anem  paluftrem  facit, 
&  narijs  maculis  diftinttam.  quod  fi  fatis  exploratum 
[p.  38J  mihi  effet,  Anglorum  goduuittain,fiue  fedoam,  attage- 
nam  ejfe,  indnbitanter  auderem  adfirmare.  Eft  autem 
ipfa  gallinagini  ita  Jimilis,  ut  nifi  paulb  maior  effet, 
&  pettoris  color  magls  ad  cinereu  uergeret,  altera  ab 
altera  difficulter pojjit  diftingui.  uiuit  in  locis  palujlri- 
bus,  et  ad  ripas  fluminu.  roftrum  habet  longuni,  fed 
capta  triticum  non  fecus  atque  columbi,  comedit.  triplo 
pluris  quam  gallinago  apud  nos  uenditur,  tantopere 
eins  caro  magnatiim  palatis  arridet.  harum  Ji  nentra 
Jit  attagena,  attagenani  nufquam  nidi. 

DE  ATRICAPILLA. 
M.e\avKopv<f)os,    atricapilla,     Germa.     ut    creditur, 

et)n  grafmuften. 

ARISTOTELES1. 

Atricapillam  etiam  plurima  edere  aliqui  re- 
ferunt,  fed  poft  Africam  ftrutionem.  lam  uel 
decem  &  fepte  oua  atricapillae  reperta  funt.  fed 
plura  etiam  quam  uiginti  parit,  &  numero  im- 
pari  femper,  ut  narrant.  Nidificat  ea  quoqj  in 
arboribus,  &  uermiculis  alitur.  Proprium  huius 
[p-  39]  &  lufciniae  praeter  caeteras  aues,  ut  linguae  fum- 
mae  acumine  careant.  Ficedulae  &  atricapillae2 
uicibus  commutantur.  Fit  enim  ineunte  au- 
tumno  ficedula,  ab  autumno  protinus  atricapilla, 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  88. 

2  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  256—257. 


Attagen — Atricapilla  45 

waste  open  places,  and  especially  those  covered  with  heather. 
They  feed  on  grain  and  on  the  topmost  buds  of  heather. 
They  have  short  wings  and  take  short  flights.  This  bird, 
if  it  be  not  the  Attagen,  appears  to  be  Varro's  Gallina 
rustica.  Erasmus  in  his  proverb  of  "  the  Attagena's  new- 
moon"  makes  his  Attagena  a  marsh-bird,  marked  with 
varied  spots.  If  this  approved  itself  sufficiently  to  me 
I  confidently  would  venture  to  affirm  that  the  Attagena  was 
what  the  English  call  the  Godwitt  or  Fedoa1.  Furthermore 
the  bird  is  so  much  like  the  Woodcock,  that,  if  it  were  not 
a  little  larger,  and  did  not  the  breast  verge  upon  ash-colour, 
the  one  of  them  could  hardly  be  distinguished  from  the 
other.  It  is  found  in  marshy  places  and  on  river  banks. 
The  beak  is  long;  but  in  captivity  it  feeds  on  wheat,  just  as 
our  Pigeons  do.  With  us  it  sells  for  thrice  as  much  again 
as  any  Woodcock,  so  much  does  its  flesh  tickle  the  palates 
of  our  magnates.  Of  these  two,  if  neither  be  the  Attagena, 
then  I  have  nowhere  seen  the  Attagena. 


OF  THE  ATRICAPILLA. 

Me\aytc6pv(f>o<;y    atricapilla,    in    German,    as    is    supposed, 
eyn  grasmuklen. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Atricapilla,  as  some  report,  lays  the  most 
eggs  of  all,  next  to  the  Struthio  of  Africa.  No  fewer 
than  seventeen  eggs  of  the  Atricapilla  have  been 
found,  but  it  lays  even  more  than  twenty  and,  as 
some  narrate,  in  number  always  odd.  It  also  nests 
in  trees  and  feeds  upon  small  worms.  It  is  peculiar 
to  this  and  the  Luscinia  beyond  all  other  birds  that 
they  have  no  point  to  the  tip  of  the  tongue.  Fice- 
dulae  and  Atricapillae  change  in  turn.  For  when 
autumn  sets  in  the  bird  becomes  a  Ficedula,  from 
autumn  onwards  it  becomes  an  Atricapilla,  nor  is 

1  See  Prof.  Newton's  Diet.  Birds,  p.  248. 


46  Atricapilla — Bubo 

nee  inter  eas  difcrimen  aliquod,  nifi  coloris  & 
uocis  eft.  Auem  effe  eandem  coftat,  quia  dum 
immutaretur  hoc  genus,  utruque  confpe6tum 
eft,  nondum  abfolute  mutatum,  nee  alterutrum 
adhuc  proprium  ullum  habens  appellationis  \ 
Hsec  Aristoteles. 

Atricapillam  in  Anglia  nunquam  nidi,  neq,  fcepius 
in  hita  quam  femel,  idq\  in  Italia  in  domo  Ducis  Ferra- 
rienjls.  Eamfy  mihi  uir  ntrinfq,  linguce  no  uulgariter 
doc~tus,  D.  Francifcus,  dud  a  facris  concionibus  exlii- 
buit.  Angloru  lingettce,  &  Germanornm  grafmufcho >, 
quod  ad  corporis  magnitudinem  attinet,  fimilis  erat : 
fed  atrnm  habebat  caput,  &  reliqunm  corporis  colorem 
magis  ad  cinerium  uergentem. 

[p.  40]  DE  BVBONE. 

Bua?2,  bubo,  Anglice,  alyke  fonle,  Germanice  eV)n 
fc^uffauf  /  e^n  fc^iiffel  /  e\)n  fauft. 

ARISTOTELES  3. 

Bubo  e  noftuarum  genere  eft,  &  nocluae 
fpecie  quidem  fimilis,  fed  magnitudine  non  minor 
quam  aquila. 

PLINIUS  4. 

Bubo  funebris,  &  maxime  abominatus,  pub- 
licis  prsecipue  aufpicijs,  deferta  incolit,  nee 
tantum  defolata,  fed  etiam  inacceffa :  noclis 
monftrum,  nee  cantu  aliquo  uocalis,  fed  gemitu. 
Volat  nuquam  quo  libuit,  fed  tranfuerfus  au- 
fertur.  Hec  Plinius. 

Hanc  atiem  femel  Venetijs  iujla  aquilcz  magnitn- 
dine  uidi,  fed  crura  erant  paulb  breuiora  quam  aquilce 
crurafolent  effe.  Ccetera  aquilce  fimilis  erat. 

1  Aristotle  has  eKare'/D<»  I8i6v  rt  inrrjp^fv  ovdev  according  to 
one  text.     He  has  no  word  to  represent  '  appellationis.' 

2  Or  Epvas.  3  Hist.  An.  Bk  VIII.  39. 
4  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  xii. 


Atricapilla — Bubo  47 

there  any  difference  between  the  two,  save  that  of 
colour  and  of  voice.  That  the  bird  is  the  same  is 
evident,  since,  while  this  kind  is  undergoing  the 
change,  each  of  the  two  is  seen,  not  fully  changed 
as  yet,  and  neither  having  so  far  any  proper  name. 
Thus  far  Aristotle. 

In  England  I  have  never  seen  the  Atricapilla,  nor  yet 
but  once  in  life,  and  that  in  Italy  within  the  house  of  the 
Duke  of  Ferrara.  And  Don  Francisco  of  the  Holy  Council 
of  the  Duke,  a  man  uncommonly  well  versed  in  both  the 
tongues,  shewed  it  to  me  himself.  The  bird  was  like  the 
English  lingett  and  the  German  grasmuschen,  so  far  as  size 
of  body  went ;  but  it  had  a  black  head,  and  the  remaining 
colour  of  its  body  verging  more  to  grey. 

OF  THE  BUBO. 

Btw,  bubo,  in  English  alyke  foule,  in  German  eyn  schuf- 
fauss  (eyn  schiiffel),  eyn  kautz. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Bubo  is  of  the  race  of  Noctuae,  and  is  in 
aspect  very  like  a  Noctua,  but  not  less  than  an 
Aquila  in  size. 

PLINY. 

The  Bubo  is  a  fatal  bird,  of  evil  omen  beyond 
other  sorts,  especially  at  public  auguries  ;  it  lives  in 
desert  places,  and  not  merely  those  that  are  un- 
peopled, but  those  also  hard  of  access  :  monster  of 
the  night  it  utters  not  a  song,  but  only  a  groan.  It 
never  flies  where  it  intends,  but  is  borne  off  aslant. 
So  Pliny  says. 

This  bird  I  saw  at  Venice  once,  of  a  full  Eagle's  size1, 
its  legs,  however,  were  a  little  shorter  than  an  Eagle's  legs 
are  wont  to  be.  But  it  was  like  an  Eagle  otherwise. 

1  Turner  probably  meant  the  Eagle  Owl  (Bubo  ignavus}. 


48  Bosca — Caprimulgus 

[p.  41]  DE  BOSCA. 

Bofca,  aids  eft  aquatica,  anati  fimilis,  fed  minor. 
Quum  multce  fint  aues  aquaticcs  anati  fimiles,  fed  mino- 
res,  lit  ftmt,  teles  uocatce  ab  Anglis  Vuigene  &  pochards, 
earn  puto  bo f cam  ejfe,  qua  proxime  ad  magnitudinem 
&  fimilitudinem  anatis  accedit.  Hoc  quum  pocharda 
faciat,  illam  Arijlotelis  effe  bofcam  iudico. 

DE    CAPRIMVLGO. 
Caprimulgus,  al^o6r)\a^. 

ARISTOTELES  \ 

Caprimulgus,  auis  eft  montana,  magnitudine 
paulo  maior,  quam  merula,  minor  quam  cuculus, 
moribus  mollior.  Parit  duo  oua,  aut  tria  cum 
plurima.  Sugit,  caprarum  ubera  aduolans,  unde 
nomen  accepit.  Cum  uber  fuxerit,  extingui, 
capram(^  excsecari  aiunt,  parum  clare  interdiu 
uidet,  fed  noclu  perfpicax. 

PLINIUS  2. 

[p.  42]  Caprimulgi  appellantur  grandiores  merulae 
afpeftu,  fures  nofturni,  interdiu  etiam  uifu 
carent. 

Cum  ejjfem  apud  H elite  tios,  fen  em  quendam  con- 
fpicatus,  capras  pafcentem  in  montibus,  quos  herbas 
qucerendi  gratia  afcenderam,  rogabam  num  auem  no- 
uijfet  merulce  magnitudine,  interdiu  ccecam,  noc~tu  per- 
fpicacem,  qua  caprarum  ubcra  noctu  fugere  foleat,  unde 
capra  poftea  ccecce  euadunt  ?  qui  refpodit,  fe  in  Helne- 
tiorum  montibus  ante  quatuordecim  annos,  multos  ui- 
dijfe,  &  mnltas  iniurias  ab  ipfis  paffum,  ut  qui  feme  I 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  109. 

2  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  xl. 


Bo  sea — Caprimulgits  49 

OF  THE  BOSCA. 

The  Bosca  is  a  water  fowl,  like  to  a  Duck1,  but  smaller. 
Since  there  are  many  water  fowls  like  to  the  Duck,  but 
smaller  (as  there  surely  are),  called  Teles,  Wigenes  and 
Pochards  by  the  English,  I  believe  the  Bosca  to  be  that  which 
comes  nearest  the  size  and  likeness  of  a  Duck.  And  since  the 
Pochard  does  so,  I  decide  that  it  is  Aristotle's  Bosca. 

OF  THE  CAPRIMULGUS. 
Caprimulgus,  alyod^Xo?. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Caprimulgus  is  a  mountain  bird,  in  size 
a  little  bigger  than  the  Merula,  less  than  the  Cuculus  ; 
in  disposition  it  is  milder.  It  lays  two  eggs  or  three 
at  most.  Flying  to  the  udders  of  she-goats,  it  sucks 
them,  and  thus  gets  its  name.  They  say  that  the 
udder  withers2  when  it  has  sucked  at  it,  and  that 
the  goat  goes  blind.  By  day  the  bird  sees  dimly, 
but  quite  well  at  night. 

PLINY. 

Caprimulgi,  as  they  are  called,  look  bigger  than 
a  Merula,  and  act  as  thieves  by  night ;  by  day  they 
even  lack  the  power  of  sight. 

When  I  was  in  Switzerland  I  saw  an  aged  man,  who  fed 
his  goats  upon  the  mountains,  which  I  had  gone  up  intent  on 
search  of  plants  :  I  asked  him  whether  he  knew  a  bird  of 
the  size  of  a  Merula,  blind  in  the  day-time,  keen  of  sight  at 
night,  which  in  the  dark  is  wont  to  suck  goats'  udders,  so  that 
afterwards  the  animals  go  blind.  Now  he  replied  that  he 
himself  had  seen  many  in  the  Swiss  mountains  fourteen  years 
before,  that  he  had  suffered  many  losses  from  those  very 

1  That  is,  the  Wild  Duck  (Anas  boscas). 

2  This  rendering  appears  much  preferable  to  translating  this  word  'the 
goat  dies,'  as,  judging  from  the  punctuation,  some  would  have  it. 

T.  A 


50  Caprimulgus — Car  due  Us 

fex  capellas  a  caprimulgo  occacatas  habuerat.  ccetern 
nuc  omnes  ad  unum  ab  Heluetijs  ufque  ad  inferiores 
Germanos,  ubi  Jiodie  non  folum  capras  lac~te  priuant  & 
occcecant,  fed  &  ones  infuper  occidunt,  auolaffe.  Nomen 
aids  qncerenti,  paphum,  id  eft,  facerdotem  did  refpodit. 
Sed  iietulns  ille  mecu  forte  iocatns  eft.  Ego  uerb,  fi- 
ne iocatns  fuerit,  fine  ferib  locnttis,  aliud  Germanicu 
caprimulgi  nomen  qua  quod  me  docuit  ifte,  non  teneo. 

51  qm  Jint,  qni   meliiis   &   aptius   nomen    in  proptn 
habeant,  proferant. 

DE    CARDVELE. 

Cardttelis,Ji  Gazce  credimus,  Greece  OpavTrls  dicitur, 

43]  &  inter  fpiniuoras  auiculas  A  riftoteles  recenfet.     Nee 

phira  de  carduele  apnd  Ariftotelem  lego.     Plinius1  fcri- 

bit  cardneles  auiitm  minimas  imperata  facere,  nee  noce 

tantum.fed pedibus  &  ore  pro  manibns. 

Prceter  aniculam  illam  fpiniuoram  aurea  uitta 
redimitam,  aliam  noui  fpiniuoram  colore  uiridem,  quce 
non  fecus  atq;  auriuittis  roftro  e  dnabns  Jitnlis  nicijjlm 
afcendentibns  &  defcendentibiis ,  cibum  ex  una,  &  potu 
ex  altera  defnmit.  Quin  &  hoc  facit  miliaria,  quam 
linotam  noftrates  appellant.  Eade  qnoq;  hominc  qnid- 
nis  cdtante,  uoce  imitatnr.  Quare  no  fola  ilia,  quce 
Greece  6  pawn  Is,  &  Latine  Theodoro  cardnelis  dicitur, 
imperata  facit)  &  roftro  &  pedibus  pro  manibns  ntitnr. 

Dic~tu  mihi  difficile  iddetnr,  qnam'nam  e  tribus, 
qnum  omnes  illce  carduornm  femine  nefcantiir,  Plinius 
cardnelem  fecerit,  nu  thranpin  aut  acanthin,  ant  chry- 

1  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  xlii. 


Caprimulgus — Car  due  Us  51 

birds ;  so  that  he  had  once  had  six  she-goats  blinded 
by  Caprimulgi,  but  that  one  and  all  they  now  had  flown 
away  from  Switzerland  to  Lower  Germany,  where  nowadays 
they  did  not  only  steal  the  milk  of  she-goats,  making  them  go 
blind,  but  killed  the  sheep  besides.  And,  on  my  asking  the 
bird's  name,  he  said  that  it  was  called  the  Paphus,  otherwise 
the  Priest.  But  possibly  that  aged  man  was  jesting  with 
me.  Yet  whether  he  was  jesting,  or  spoke  gravely,  still 
I  have  no  other  German  name  than  what  he  gave  to  me  for 
Caprimulgus.  If  there  be  any  then  who  have  in  readiness 
a  better  or  a  fitter  name  than  this,  let  them  produce  it. 


OF  THE  CARDUELIS. 

The  Carduelis,  if  we  believe  Gaza,  is  in  Greek  called 
Aristotle  also  numbers  it  among  small  thistle- 
eaters1.  I  find  in  Aristotle  nothing  more  than  this  about 
the  Carduelis.  Pliny  writes  that  Cardueles,  smallest  of  all 
birds,  perform  set  tasks,  and  not  in  song  alone,  but  with  their 
feet  and  beak  in  place  of  hands. 

Besides  that  thistle-eating  little  bird2  adorned  with  band 
of  gold  I  know  another  thistle-eating  sort,  in  colour  green3, 
which  with  its  beak  takes  up  its  food  from  one  of  two  small 
buckets  moving  up  and  down  alternately,  its  water  from 
the  other,  as  the  Aurivittis  does.  The  Miliaria  moreover 
does  the  same,  which  bird  our  countrymen  call  Linot. 
Furthermore  it  mimics  with  its  song  a  man  when  singing 
anything.  And  so  it  is  not  only  that  one  kind,  in  Greek 
called  dpavjris  and  in  Latin  named  by  Theodorus4  Carduelis 
that  performs  the  tasks  that  it  is  bid,  and  uses  beak  and 
feet  in  place  of  hands. 

It  seems  to  me  then  difficult  to  say,  since  all  three  birds 
feed  upon  thistle-seeds,  which  of  them  Pliny  meant  by 
Carduelis,  whether  it  should  be  the  Thraupis,  or  the  Acanthis, 
or  the  Chrysomitris.  And  should  it  be  the  Thraupis,  as 

1  See  p.  35. 

2  The  Aurivittis,  p.  35. 

3  Probably  Turner  means  the  Siskin  (Carduelis  spinus\ 

4  Theodorus  Gaza. 

4—2 


5  2  Car  due  Us — Cceruleo —  Certh  ia 

fomitrc.  Si  thraupin,  ut  Gaza  credit,  auis  ilia  aureis 
plumis  carduelis  non  erit:  nam  ilia  apud  Ariflot.  no 
QpavTrls,  fed  Chryfomitris  eft.  Qucend  igitur  auis 
carduelis  Jit,  non  audeo  prommciare. 


DE   CCERVLEONE. 

Kvavos,  cceruleo,  Anglice,  a  clotburd,  a  fmatche, 
an  arlyng,  a  fteinchek,  German,  etytt  bred?  uocjel. 

[p.  44]  ARISTOTELES  \ 

Coeruleo  maxime  in  Scyro2  colit,  faxa  amans  : 
magnitucline  minor  quam  merula,  maior  paulo 
qua  fringilla :  pede  magno 3  eft,  fcandit4*  faxa  : 
colore  coeruleo :  roftro  tenui  &  longo :  crure 
breui,  fimiliter  ut  pipo  eft. 

Cceruleo,  Ji  ea  Jit  auis,  quam  conijcio  effe,  in  cuni- 
culorum  foueis,  &  fub  lapidibus  in  Anglia  nidulatur,  & 
in  hyeme  non  apparet. 

DE   CERTHIA. 
ARISTOTELES  4. 

Certhia,  auicula  eft  exigua,  cui  mores  au- 
daces,  domicilium  apud  arbores,  ui6lus  ex  coffis, 
ingenium  fagax  in  uitae  officijs. 

Auis  eft  qucedam,  quam  Angli  creperam,  id  eft, 
reptitatricem  nominant,  quod  fuper  arbores  femper  repat, 
quam  certhiam  effe  credo.  Ea  reguto  paulb  maior, 
pecJore  pallido,  ccetera  fufca  &  maculis  nigris  diftincta 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  97. 

2  Another  reading  is  Nio-vpw. 

3  /ifyaXoTrous,  but  some  read  p 

4  Hist.  An.  Bk  IX.  92. 


Car  due  Us — Coeruleo —  Certhia  5  3 

Gaza  believes,  that  bird  with  golden  feathers  will  not  be 
the  Carduelis,  for  with  Aristotle  that  is  not  the  Opawjrls, 
but  the  Chrysomitris,  Therefore  I  dare  not  pronounce  what 
bird  the  Carduelis  is. 


OF   THE    CCERULEO. 

o9,  coeruleo,  in  English   a   clot-burd,   a   smatche,  an 
arlyng,  a  steinchek,  in  German  eyn  brech  vogel. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Coeruleo  chiefly  dwells  in  Scyros  and  loves 
rocks ;  in  size  it  is  a  little  smaller  than  a  Merula, 
a  little  larger  than  a  Fringilla  :  it  has  large  feet,  and 
climbs  on  rocks :  in  colour  it  is  blue :  the  beak  is 
long  and  thin  :  the  legs  are  short  as  in  the  Pipo. 

The  Coeruleo1,  if  it  be  the  bird  which  I  conjecture,  nests 
in  rabbit  holes  and  under  stones  in  England,  and  does  not 
appear  in  winter. 


OF  THE  CERTHIA. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Certhia  is  a  very  little  bird  of  bold  habits  ; 
its  home  is  upon  trees,  its  food  is  grubs ;  it  shews 
wise  instinct  for  the  needs  of  life. 

There  is  a  certain  bird  which  Englishmen  call  Creeper, 
that  is  Climber,  for  it  always  climbs  about  on  trees  :  this 
I  believe  to  be  the  Certhia.  It  is  a  little  bigger  than 
the  Regulus,  having  a  whitish  breast,  the  other  parts  dull 
brown,  but  varied  with  black  spots;  its  note  is  sharp,  its 

1  Whatever  bird  Aristotle's  may  be,  Turner's  is  certainly  the 
Wheatear.  Belon  and  Gesner  seem  to  think  that  the  former  is  the 
Blue  Thrush,  but  Sundevall  is  certainly  wrong  in  suggesting  that  it  is 
the  Wall-Creeper  (Tichodroma  murarid]. 


5  4  Certh  ia —  Ciconia —  Cine  his 

[p-  45]  eft,  ^loce  acuta  eft,  &  roftro  tenni,  &  leidter  in  fine  adunco, 
nunquam  qniefcit,  fed  femper  per  arbores  picorum  more 
fcandit,  &  cojfos  e  corticibns  eruens,  comedit. 

DE    CICONIA. 

TleXapyos,  ciconia,  Anglice  a  ftork,  Germanice  etylt 
ftorcf,  &  Saxonice  ei)it  ebefyer. 

Ciconia,  nt  Germanis  aids  eft  notiffima,  ita  Bri- 
tannis  meis  pier  if q\  omnibus  tam  ignota  eft,  quam 
quce  omnium  ignotijfima.  Nee  minim,  qnum  nufquam 
in  infula  noftra  nifi  captiua  Ciconia  nideatnr.  Apud 
Germanos  in  fnmmis  teclis,  aliqnando  in  ipfis  fnmmis 
fnmarijs  nidulatur.  Auis  eft  medics  magnitudinis  inter 
gruem  &  ardeam,  pennis  albis  &  nigris  diftincla :  crura 
longa  habet,  roftrum  grninam,fed  rubrnm  &  craffuin  : 
circa  lacus  &  paludes  degit,  ranas,  bnfones,  angnes,  & 
pifces  comedens. 

PLINIUS  DE  cicoNiis1. 

Ciconiae,  quo'nam  e  loco  ueniant,  aut  quo 
fe  referant,  incompertum  adhuc  eft.  E  longin- 
quo  uenire,  non  dubium,  eodem,  quo  grues 
modo,  illas  hyemis,  iftas  seftatis  aduenas.  Abi- 
[p.  46]  turae  congregantur  in  loco  certo  :  comitatae^,  fie 
ut  nulla  fui  generis  relinquatur,  nifi  captiua  & 
ferua,  ceu  lege  prsedicla  die  recedut.  Nemo 
uidit  agmen  difcedentium,  cum  difceffurum  ap- 
pareat,  nee  uenire,  fed  ueniffe  cernimus.  Vtrum- 
que  no6lurnis  fit  temporibus.  Ciconiae  nidos 
eofdem  repetunt,  &  genetricum  fene6lutem 
educant. 

DE  CINCLO. 

K/7/cXo9,  r;  <7etcro7ri'y/9,  Anglice  a  uuater  fuuallouu, 
Germanice  etytt  fte^nbiffcr. 

1  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  xxiii. 


Certkia —  Ciconia —  Cinclus  5  5 

beak  is  slender  and  is  slightly  hooked  towards  the  tip  ;  it 
never  rests,  but  is  for  ever  climbing  up  the  trunks  of  trees 
after  the  manner  of  the  Woodpeckers,  and  it  eats  grubs, 
picking  them  from  the  bark. 

OF  THE  CICONIA. 

lleXo.^709,  ciconia,  in  English  a  stork,  in  German  eyn 
storck,  and  in  Saxon  eyn  ebeher. 

The  Stork,  though  one  of  the  best  known  of  birds  among 
the  Germans,  is  to  nearly  all  my  countrymen  of  Britain  as 
unknown  as  the  most  unknown  bird.  And  little  wonder 
since  a  Stork  is  nowhere  to  be  seen,  save  as  a  captive, 
in  our  island.  With  the  Germans  the  bird  nests  upon  roofs 
or  even  chimney  tops  at  times.  It  is  a  bird  of  middle  size 
between  a  Crane  and  a  Heron  and  distinguished  by  feathers 
of  black  and  white :  it  has  long  legs  and  a  beak  like 
a  Crane's,  but  red  and  stout ;  it  lives  near  lakes  and  marshes, 
eating  frogs,  toads,  snakes  and  fishes. 

PLINY  ON  CICONIA. 

From  what  parts  the  Ciconiae  may  come,  or  whither 
they  betake  themselves,  is  not  yet  ascertained.  It  is 
indubitable  that  they  come  from  far  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  Grues,  but  the  former  arrive  in  winter 
and  the  latter  in  summer.  When  ready  to  depart  these 
birds  collect  at  some  fixed  place,  and  after  gathering, 
so  that  none  of  their  tribe,  unless  a  prisoner  or  a 
slave,  is  left  behind,  they  disappear,  on  an  appointed 
day,  as  if  by  law.  No  one  has  ever  seen  the  whole 
array  in  very  act  to  go,  though  it  may  haply  shew 
itself  when  ready  to  depart ;  nor  do  we  view  it 
coming,  but  when  it  has  come.  Both  these  events 
take  place  at  night.  Ciconiae  seek  the  same  nests 
again,  and  tend  their  parents  in  old  age. 

OF  THE  CINCLUS. 

Kt7«rXo?,  rf  o-eicroTrvyfc,  in  English  a  water  swallow,  in 
German  eyn  steynbisser. 


5  6  Cinclus —  Chalcis 

ARISTOTELES  '. 

Cinclus  ex  mari  &  fluuijs  uiclu  petit,  aflutus 
eft,  &  captu  difficilis :  fed  captus,  omnium  maxi- 
me  mitefcit.  Lefus  hie  eft,  incontinens  enim 
parte  fui  pofteriore. 

Auicula,  qua   ego   cinclu   effe  puto,  galerita  paulb 

maior    eft,   colore    in    tergo   nigro,    uentre   albo,    tibijs 

longis,    &    roftro    neutiquam    breui:    uere   circa    ripas 

[p-  47]  flnminuni,  ualde  clamofa  eft  &  querula,  brenes  &  crebros 

facit  uolatus. 

DE   CHALCIDE. 
ARISTOTELES  2. 

Chalcis  raro  apparet,  montes  etenim  incolit. 
nigro  colore  eft,  rnagnitudine  accipitris,  quern 
palumbarium  nominant :  forma  longa  ac  tenui, 
lones  cymindem  appellant,  cuius  Homerus 
etiam  meminit  in  Iliade  cum  dicit : 

Chalcida  dij perhibens^  homines  dixere  cymindem 3. 

Sunt,  qui  eandem  hanc  aue  non  aliam  effe 
atque  ptyngem  uelint.  Interdiu  minus  apparet, 
quia  non  clare  uidet,  fed  noclu  uenatur,  more 
aquilae  :  pugnat  uero  cum  aquila  adeo  acriter,  ut 
fsepius  ambae  implexse,  deferantur  in  terram4, 

6  uiue  a  paftoribus  capiantur.      Parit  hec  oua 
duo,  &  faxis  fpelunciscj*  nidulatur. 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  76. 

2  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  79 — 80. 

3  Iliad,    Bk   xiv.    1.    291.      'Perhibens'    is   a  misprint   for 
'perhibent.' 

4  Aristotle  has  not  these  five  words. 


Cinclus —  Chalcis  5  7 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Cinclus  seeks  its  food  from  the  sea  and  from 
rivers.  It  is  cunning  and  is  hard  to  catch,  but  grows 
the  gentlest  of  all  birds  when  caught.  It  is  more- 
over maimed,  being  without  control  over  its  hinder 
parts. 

The  little  bird  which  I  believe  to  be  the  Cinclus1  is 
a  little  bigger  than  the  Galerita,  with  black  colour  on  the 
back,  and  a  white  belly ;  while  it  has  long  shanks  and  a  bill 
by  no  means  short :  in  spring  it  is  exceeding  clamorous 
and  querulous  about  the  banks  of  rivers,  where  it  takes 
short  and  incessant  flights. 

OF  THE  CHALCIS. 
ARISTOTLE. 

The  Chalcis  is  not  often  seen,  for  it  haunts  moun- 
tains. It  is  of  a  black  colour,  and  of  the  size  of  the 
Accipiter  which  they  name  Palumbarius.  Its  form  is 
long  and  slender  ;  the  lonians  call  it  Cymindis.  Of 
it  furthermore  Homer  makes  mention  in  the  Iliad, 
wherein  he  says  :— 

The  Gods  know  it  as  Chalcis,  men  say  Cymindis. 

Some  there  are  who  would  make  this  very  bird 
none  other  than  the  Ptynx.  By  day  it  shews  itself 
but  little,  since  it  does  not  see  clearly,  although  it 
hunts  by  night,  after  the  manner  of  the  Aquila ;  yet 
with  the  Aquila  so  keenly  does  it  strive,  that  frequently 
both  birds  fall  to  the  ground  clutching  each  other, 
and  are  caught  alive  by  shepherds.  It  lays  two  eggs, 
and  nests  in  cliffs  and  caves2. 

1  Turner   evidently  means    the    Common   Sandpiper   (Actitis  hypo- 
leucus). 

2  Sundevall  says  that  Kiilb  thought  that  this  bird  was  the  Hawk  Owl, 
but  himself  refers  it  doubtfully  to  the  Glossy  Ibis  (Plegadis  falcinellus], 
which  however  is  not  a  night  bird  and  does  not  live  on  hills.     Belon  and 
Gaza  thought  that  it  was  an  owl  of  some  kind. 


58  Collurio — Columbi 

[p.  48]  DE    COLLVRIONE. 

Ko\\vpld)v,  collurio,  Anglice,  a  feldfare  aut  a  felde- 
fare.  Qnibnfdd  German.  etyii  frammejuogd. 

ARISTOTELES  1. 

Collurio  ijfdem,  quibus  merula  uefcitur, 
magnitudo  eius  eadem  quae  fuperioribus,  id  eft, 
uireoni  &  mollicipiti 2,  capitur  potius  hyberno 
tempore. 

Auis,  quam  colhirionem  effe  puto,  turdum  mqgni- 
tudine  csquat^  fed  caudam  Jiabet  longiorern,  &  magis 
mobilem,  &  pectns  niacnlofum.  In  ceftate  apud  nos  ant 
rarb  ant  nunqnam  nidetur :  in  Jiyenie  nerb  tanta  copia 
eft,  nt  nullins  anis  maior  Jit.  baccis  aquifolice  arboris, 
forbi  minima,  &  Jimilium  arbornm  nefcitur.  gregatim 
nolat,  &  inter  uolandzim  obftrepera  eft. 

DE    COLVMBIS. 

HepKrrepd,  columba,  Anglice  a  doue>  Germanice  etyn 
taitbe.  Saxonice  ei)it  buue. 

ARISTOTELES  3. 

Columbacei  uero  generis  plures  fpecies  funt. 

Liuia.  Eft  enim  liuia  a  liuore  di6ta,  diuerfum  certe  a 

columba  genus,  quippe  minor  quam  columba 
fit,  &  minus  patiens  manfuefcere  :  liuet  enim 
plumis,  &  pene  nigricat,  &  pedibus  rubris  fca- 
brofiscjj  eft.  Quas  ob  res,  nullus  id  genus  cel- 
lare  alit.  Maximo  inter  hec  genera  funt  corpore 

Palumbes.     palumbes.     Secundum    magnitudinis  locum  ui- 

Vinago.         nago  obtinet,  paulo  maior  quam  columbus 4  eft. 

Turtur.  Minimum  ex  his  turtur  eft.  pariunt  columbae 
omnibus  anni  temporibus,  pulloscjj  educant  fi 
locum  apricum  habeat  &  cibum.  Sin  minus, 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  99. 

2  These    five    words     are    not    represented     in    Aristotle. 
Moreover  the  TrdpdaXos  is  here  omitted,  and  is  placed   later 
(p.  107  of  the  original  work),  but  there  seems  to  be  some  doubt 
as  to  the  correct  reading  in  the  Greek. 

3  Hist.  An.  Bk  v.  43.     The  readings  vary  in  places,  but  the 
rendering  is  decidedly  free. 

4  Gaza  and  Turner  make  indiscriminate  use  of  '  Columbus ' 
and  'Columba'  for  the  same  kind  of  bird. 


Collurio — Columbi  5  9 

OF  THE  COLLURIO. 

^,  collurio,  in  English  a  feldfare  or  a  feldefare. 
According  to  some  Germans  eyn  krammesvogel. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Collurio  feeds  on  the  same  meat  as  the 
Merula.  Its  size  is  that  of  the  aforesaid  kinds — that 
is,  the  Vireo  and  the  Molliceps — it  is  caught  chiefly 
in  the  winter  time. 

The  bird  which  I  consider  to  be  the  Collurio  equals 
a  Thrush  in  size,  but  has  a  longer  and  more  flirting  tail,  also 
a  spotted  breast.  Rarely  or  never  is  it  seen  with  us  in 
summer :  yet  its  plenty  is  so  great  in  winter  that  of  no  kind 
is  there  more.  It  eats  the  berries  of  the  Holly,  the  Least 
Service,  and  like  trees.  It  flies  in  companies,  and  on  its 
flight  is  very  noisy. 

OF  DOVES. 

Hepiarepd,  columba,  in  English  a  dove,  in  German  eyn 
taube,  in  Saxon  eyn  duve. 

ARISTOTLE. 

Of  the  Dove-kind,  however,  there  are  many  sorts. 
For  first  there  is  the  Livia,  named  from  its  livid 
colour,  which  is  certainly  a  different  kind  from  the 
Columba,  inasmuch  as  it  is  smaller  and  less  ready  to 
be  tamed  :  and  it  is  livid  in  its  plumage,  verging  upon 
black,  and  has  moreover  red  and  roughened  feet. 
Wherefore  nobody  keeps  this  kind  in  cotes.  Of  great- 
est size  among  the  several  sorts  are  the  Palumbes ; 
the  Vinago  holds  the  second  place  herein,  a  little 
bigger  than  the  Columbus.  The  smallest  of  them 
is  the  Turtur.  The  Columbae  breed  at  all  times  of 
the  year,  and  rear  their  young,  if  they  have  but 
a  sunny  place  and  food.  If  otherwise  they  breed 


60  Colum&i 

seflate  tantummodo  foetant.  Sed  proles  prae- 
ftantior  uere  eft,  quam  autumno,  deterrima  aefta- 
te,  &  omni  tempore  calidiore. 

De  ijfdem  in  alio  libro  J  ad  hunc  modum  fcribit, 

Alia  frugibus  uiuunt,  ut  palumbes,  co 
[p.  s°]  lumbus,  uinago,  turtur.  Vifuntur  femper  co- 
lumbi,  atque  palumbes,  fed  turtur  aeflate  tantii, 
hyeme  fe  condit,  latitat2  enim  fuo  tempore. 
Vinago  autumno  &  confpicitur,  &  capitur,  cui 
magnitude  maior,  quam  columbo,  minor  qua 
palumbi  eft. 

Liuia.  IleXaa?,  qu<z  liuia  Latine  dicitur,  eft  fylueftris  ilia 

columba,  qtiam  Angli  a  ftocdoue,  &  Germani  etytt  l)ol{$ 
taube  nominant. 

Palumbes.  <J>arra,  Latine  palumbes  fine  palumbus,  dicta  ab 

Anglis  a  coushot  a  ringged  done,  &  a  Germanis  etyll 
ringet  taube  appellatur.  Hcec  longe  aliter  atqne  liuia 
nidulatur.  Nidificat  autein  liuia  in  cauis  aliquando 
arboribtts,  interdum  &  in  templorum  muris.  Palumbes 
uerb  in  condenfa  hedera,  aut  fuper  ramum  arboris  ex 
pauculis  ligniculis  tranfuerjim  pofitis,  tenuijfimum 
nidum  conftruit.  Quod  ft  quis  mihi  parum  hac  in 
re  fidat,  torquatos  columbos  esse  palumbes  ueterum, 
A  riftotelem  diligentius  legat,  &  Martialem  3  poetam  de 
ijfdem  ita  fcribentem  audiat, 

[p.  51]  Inguina  torquati,  tardant  kebetantqi  palumbi 

Non  edat  hanc  uolucrem,  qui  uolet  effe  falax. 

Politianus*  de  palumbis  ita  fcribit  : 

Dum  fua  torquata  repetunt  dic~tata  palumbes. 


Turtures  in  Ger  mania  funt  multb  frcquentiores  qua 
Turtur.  ^   Anglia.     Turturem   Angli    &    Saxones  communi 

uocabulo  turtel  t>uue  nominant. 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  vm.  p.  45. 

2  The  Greek  is  0a)XeI  yap.     But  how  far  Aristotle  referred  to 
birds  '  hibernating  '  is  very  doubtful. 

3  Epigr.  Lib.  xin.  Ixvii. 

4  A  poet  and  scholar  of  the  Renaissance. 


Columbi  6  1 

only  in  summer.  Yet  in  spring  the  young  are  better 
than  in  autumn,  they  are  worst  of  all  in  summer  and 
at  every  hotter  season. 

Of  the  same  he  writes  in  another  book  after  this 
manner  :  — 

Other  birds  live  on  crops,  as  the  Palumbes,  the 
Columbus,  the  Vinago  and  the  Turtur.  The  Columbi 
and  Palumbes  may  be  always  seen,  the  Turtur  only 
in  the  summer.  In  the  winter  it  lies  hid,  for  it  con- 
ceals itself  at  the  due  time.  But  the  Vinago  is  both 
seen  and  caught  in  autumn,  of  which  bird  the  size  is 
greater  than  that  of  the  Columbus,  but  less  than 
that  of  the  Palumbes. 


?,  which  in  Latin  is  called  Livia,  is  that  dove  of 
the  woodlands  which  the  English  name  a  stocdove,  and  the 
Germans  eyn  holtztaube. 

O«rra,  in  Latin  Palumbes  or  Palumbus,  is  called  by 
Englishmen  a  Coushot  or  a  Ringged  Dove,  and  by  Germans 
named  eyn  ringel  taube.  It  nests  far  otherwise  than  does 
the  Livia,  for  that  bird  sometimes  breeds  in  hollow  trees 
and  sometimes  even  in  the  walls  of  churches.  But  the 
Palumbes  builds  a  nest  of  the  frailest  of  a  few  small  twigs 
laid  crosswise  in  a  mass  of  ivy  or  upon  a  bough.  Now 
in  this  thing  if  there  be  anyone  who  places  little  confidence 
in  my  opinion  that  our  collared  doves  are  the  Palumbes  of 
the  ancients,  let  him  read  with  greater  care  his  Aristotle 
and  give  ear  as  well  to  Martial  the  poet  writing  thus  of 
the  same  birds  :  — 

Ringed  doves  make  a  man's  loins  slow  and  dull  ; 
Who  would  be  lusty  should  not  eat  this  bird. 

Politian  writes  of  the  Palumbi  thus  :— 

While  ringed  doves  seek  again  their  accustomed  haunts. 

Turtle  Doves  are  much  more  plentiful  in  Germany  than 
in  England.  English  and  Saxons  in  common  call  it  turtel 
duve. 


6  2  Columbi  —  Co  turn  ix 

Vinago.  OiW?,   quce   Latine    uinago   dicitnr,   mihi   nunqua 

Jiaclenus  uifa  eft,  nee  quid  habeat  nominis  apnd  noftros, 
aut  apud  Germanos  camper  turn  Jiabeo.  Vidi  tamen 
Venetijs  columbos  hijs  noftratibus  fefquialtera  portione 
maiores  :  fed  hos  non  uinagines  fuijfe  credo,  fed  colnm- 
bos e  Campania  ad  Venetos  adueclos,  ubi  P  limns  co- 
lnmbos fcribit  effe  grandiffimos. 

DE   COTVRN1CE. 
°PTV£>  coturnix,   Anglice   a   qnale,   Germanice   e\)n 


PLINIUS1. 

Coturnix  parua  auis,  &  cum  ad  nos  uenit, 
terreftris  potius  quam  fublimis.  Aduolant  & 
h^  fimili  modo,  quo  grues  &  ciconiae,  non  fine 
[p.  52]  periculo  nauigantium,  cum  appropinquauere  ter- 
ns. Quippe  uelis  faepe  infidunt,  &  hoc  Temper 
noclu,  merguntcj?  nauigia.  Coturnicibus,  uera- 
tri,  fiue  ut  alij  legunt,  ueneni  :  femen  gra- 
tiffimus  cibus.  quam  ob  caufam  eas  damna- 
uere  menfae,  fimul^  comitiale  propter  morbum 
defpui  fuetum,  quern  fol^  animaliu  fentiunt 
praeter  hominem. 

Quce,  qnnm  ita  fe  habeant,  demiror  qnis  mains 
genius  Britannis  meis  in  mentem  immifit,  ut  eas 
tantopere  in  delicijs  habeant,  quum  tot  malis,  ueneno 
fcilicet,  et  comitiali  morbo,  i  liar  ft  caro  Jit  obnoxia.  Co- 
turnix per  did  Jlmilis  eft:  fed  multis  partibus  minor. 
Coturnix^  ut  fcribit  Arijlot.  hoc  Jibi  peculiare  &  pro- 
prium  uindicat,  ut  &  ingluuiem,  &  gulam  prope  uentri- 
culum  amplam  &  latam  habeat. 

1  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  xxiii. 


Columbi — Cotnrnix  63 

?,  in  Latin  called  Vinago,  has  never  met  my  eye  up 
to  this  time,  nor  have  I  yet  found  out  what  name  it  bears 
among  our  countrymen  or  among  Germans.  But  I  have  seen 
doves  in  Venice  half  as  big  again  as  those  of  our  own  land, 
although  I  do  not  think  that  they  could  be  Vinagines,  but 
birds  brought  to  those  parts  out  of  Campania,  where  Pliny 
notes  the  Doves  to  be  exceeding  large. 


OF  THE   COTURNIX. 

oprvj;,  coturnix,  in  English  a  quale,  in  German  eyn 
wachtel. 

PLINY. 

The  Coturnix  is  a  little  bird,  and,  when  it  comes 
to  us,  keeps  on  the  ground  Tnore  than  aloft.  Yet 
it  flies  hither  just  as  Grues  and  Ciconise,  not  without 
danger  to  sea-faring  men,  when  they  approach  the 
land.  For  these  birds  often  settle  on  the  sails,  and 
that  always  at  night,  and  so  sink  ships.  The  seed 
of  Veratrum,  or,  as  others  read,  Venenum,  is  a  very 
grateful  food  to  the  Coturnices,  and  for  this  cause 
men  have  condemned  them  for  the  table ;  further- 
more it  is  the  custom  for  them  to  be  spurned  on 
account  of  the  falling  sickness,  to  which,  they  alone 
of  animals,  save  man,  are  subject. 

Now  since  these  things  are  so,  I  marvel  much  what  evil 
genius  put  it  into  the  mind  of  my  fellow  Britons  to  esteem 
them  thus  among  their  delicacies,  when  their  flesh  is  liable  to 
ills  so  many,  namely  poison  and  the  falling  sickness.  The 
Quail  is  like  the  Partridge,  although  many  times  smaller. 
As  Aristotle  writes,  it  claims  a  property  peculiar  to  it  of 
having  both  crop  and  gullet  large  and  wide  near  to  the 
stomach. 


64  Cornix —  Corvus —  Culicilega 

DE  CORNICE. 

Kopwvr),  comix,  Anglice  a  crouu,  Germanice  etyn 
frae,  &  etylt  fraeg.  Cornix  auis  eft  omniuora,  nam  carnes, 
pifces,  &  grana  inter dum  nor  at,  circa  littora  mar  is,  & 
ripas  fluminum  multinn  uerfatur,  ut  ea  animalia,  qua 
[p-  53]  unda  eiecit,  tangat.  Cornix  tota  nigra  eft.  &  media 
magnitudine  inter  monedulam  &  con  mm. 

Eft  &  marina  quczdam  comix,  quam  aliqui  hy- 
bernam  cornicem  uocant,  capite,  cauda,  &  a  Us  nigris, 
ccetera  cineria:  an  hanc  aliquando  uiderint  Ariftoteles 
&  Plinius,  dubito:  nam  de  ea  nufquam  mentionem 
fecerunt.  Supereft  adJmc  &  alia  comix  graniuora, 
roftro  albo,  ccetera  nigra.  Hac  (T7r€p/jLo\oyov,  id  eft, 
frugilegam  Ariftotelis  Longolius  effe  coniecit. 

DE   CORVO. 

K6pa%,  cornus,  Anglice  a  rauen,  Germanice  etylt  rabe. 
Coruus,  quum  Jit  auis  cornice  maior,  tota  nigra  & 
carniuora,  omnibus  fatis  notus  eft.  Corui  locis  arclio- 
ribus  &  ubi  fatis  pluribus  non  Jit,  duo  tdtum  incolunt, 
&  fuos  pullos  cum  iam  poteftas  uolandi  eft,  primum  nido 
eijciunt,  deinde  regione  tota  expellunt.  Parit  cormis 
quatiwr  aut  qiiinq;. 

DE   CVLICILEGA. 

~Kvi7ro\6yo<;,  culicilega,  Anglice  a  uuagtale,  Ger- 
manice etyn  nniffcv  ftel^.  ei)n  qiiiffter^. 

ARISTOTELES  \ 

Culicilega,    magnitudine    eft    quata    fpinus, 
[p.  54]  colore    cinerea,   diftincla   maculis,    uoce    parua, 
quse  &  ipfa  lignapeta2  eft. 

Culicilegam  effe  iudico  auiculam,  quam  aliqui  mota- 
cillam  nuncupant.  eft  autem  ilia  albo  &  nigro  uarie 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  viu.  44. 

2  The  Greek  is  eo-rt  Se  KOI  TOVTO  ^V\OKOTTOV. 


Corn  ix —  Corvus —  Culicilega  6  5 

OF  THE  CORNIX. 

7,  comix,  in  English  a  crow,  in  German  eyn  krae 
and  eyn  kraeg. 

The  Crow1  is  an  omnivorous  bird,  for  it  eats  flesh  and 
fish  and  sometimes  grain ;  it  much  frequents  sea-coasts  and 
river-banks,  that  it  may  there  obtain  those  animals  which 
the  tide  has  thrown  up.  The  Crow  is  wholly  black  and  is 
midway  in  size  between  a  Daw  and  a  Raven. 

There  also  is  a  certain  Sea  Crow,  which  some  call  the 
Winter  Crow2,  with  black  head,  tail,  and  wings  and  the 
remainder  grey :  but  whether  Aristotle  or  Pliny  ever  saw  this 
bird  I  am  uncertain,  for  they  have  not  mentioned  it  in  any 
place.  There  still  remains  another  Crow3,  a  grain-eater,  with 
white  beak,  but  black  otherwise.  Longolius  conjectured  this 
to  be  Aristotle's  0-^6/9^0X0709,  that  is  frugilega. 

OF  THE  CORVUS. 

Ko/oaf,  corvus,  in  English  a  raven,  in  German  eyn  rabe. 

The  Raven,  inasmuch  as  it  is  bigger  than  the  Crow,  quite 
black,  and  a  flesh-eater,  is  sufficiently  well  known  to  all. 
In  places  with  less  space,  and  where  there  is  not  room  for 
many,  Ravens  dwell  only  in  pairs,  and,  when  their  young 
have  just  gained  power  of  flight,  the  parents  first  banish 
them  from  the  nest,  and  later  drive  them  out  of  the  whole 
neighbourhood.  The  Raven  has  a  brood  of  four  or  five. 

OF  THE  CULICILEGA. 

Kz/iTToX^o?4,  culicilega,  in  English  a  wagtale,  in  German 
eyn  wasser  steltz,  eyn  quikstertz. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Culicilega  is  a  bird  of  the  same  size  as  the 
Spinus,  ash-coloured,  and  marked  with  spots  :  its  voice 
is  poor  ;  moreover  it  pecks  wood. 

The  Culicilega  I  judge  to  be  that  little  bird,  which  some 
name  Motacilla,  inasmuch  as  it  is  variously  marked  with 

1  The  Carrion  Crow  (Corvus  corone). 

2  The  Hooded  or  Grey  Crow  (Corvus  comix). 

3  The  Rook  (Corvus  frugilegus). 

4  Sundevall  thinks  that  this  bird  is  Certhiafamiliaris. 

T-  5 


6  6  Culicilega —  Cuculus 

diftinEla,  cauda  longa,  quam  femper  motitat.  degit  pluri- 
mum  ad  ripas  fluminum^  ubi  mufcas  captat  &  uermi- 
cu/osy  quin  &  aratrum  uermiurn  caufa  fequitur,  quos 
uerfat  &  exhibet  aim  gleba  aratrum. 

DE   CVCVLO. 

Kd/c/cuf,  cuculus,  Anglice  a   cukkouu,  &   a  gouke, 
Germanice  etyn  fuffucf. 

ARISTOTELES1. 

Cuculus  ex  accipitre  fieri,  immutata  figura, 
a  nonnullis  putatur :  quoniam  quo  tempore  is 
apparet,  accipiter  ille,  cui  fimilis  eft,  non  afpi- 
citur.  Sed  ita  fere  euenit,  ut  ne  caeteri  item 
accipitres  cernatur  cum  primam  uocem  emifit 
cuculus,  nifi  perquam  paucis  diebus.  Ipfe 
autem  breui  tempore  eftatis  uifus,  hyeme  no 
[p.  55]  cernitur.  Eft  hie  neque  aduncis  unguibus,  ut 
accipiter,  neq$  capite  accipitri  fimilis :  fed  ea 
utraque  parte  columbum  potius  quam  accipi- 
trem  repraefentat.  Nee  alio  quam  colore  imi- 
tatur  accipitrem,  nifi  quod  maculis  diftinguitur, 
ceu  lineis,  cuculus  uelut  punc~tis.  Magnitude 
atq*  uolatus  fimilis  accipitru  minimo,  qui  magna 
ex  parte  non  cernitur  per  id  tempus,  quo  cu- 
culus apparet.  Na  uel  ambo  una  uifi  aliquando 
funt.  Quin  etiam  ab  accipitre  interimi2  cuculus 
uifus  eft,  quod  nulla  auis  fuo  in  genere  folet 
facere.  pullos  cuculi  nemo  ait  fe  uidiffe.  parit 
tame,  uerum  non  in  nido,  quern  ipfe  fecerit,  fed 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  vi.  41—44. 

2  Aristotle  has 


Culicilega — Cuculus  67 

black  and  white,  and  it  has  a  long  tail,  which  it  is  always 
jerking.  It  mostly  haunts  the  banks  of  rivers,  where  it 
catches  flies  and  little  worms ;  moreover  it  follows  the 
plough  for  the  sake  of  the  worms  which  are  turned  up  and 
laid  bare  with  the  clod. 

OF  THE  CUCULUS. 

KOKKVJ;,  cuculus,  in  English  a  cukkow,  and  a  gouke,  in 
German  eyn  kukkuck. 

ARISTOTLE. 

By  some  the  Cuculus  is  thought  to  come  by 
change  of  form  from  an  Accipiter1,  since,  at  the 
season  when  the  former  appears,  the  Accipiter  which 
it  resembles  is  not  seen.  But  commonly  it  so  falls  out 
that  the  other  Accipitres  are  likewise  absent  when 
the  Cuculus  utters  its  earliest  cry,  save  for  a  very  few 
days.  Further  the  bird  itself  is  only  seen  for  a  short 
time  in  summer  ;  it  is  not  observed  in  winter.  Nor 
has  it  the  claws  hooked  as  an  Accipiter,  nor  yet  a 
head  like  an  Accipiter  :  but  in  both  of  these  parts  it 
counterfeits  a  Columbus  rather  than  an  Accipiter.  In 
naught  but  colour  does  it  imitate  the  Accipiter,  except 
that  in  its  marks,  it  is  distinguished  as  it  were  by 
lines,  the  Cuculus  by  spots.  The  size  and  mode  of 
flight  are  like  those  of  the  least  of  the  Accipitres, 
which  for  the  most  part  at  the  time  wherein  the 
Cuculus  appears,  is  not  to  be  observed.  Yet  on 
occasion  both  have  been  seen  at  once.  The  Cuculus, 
moreover,  has  been  known  to  be  struck  down  by  the 
Accipiter,  which  thing  no  bird  is  ever  wont  to  do  to 
one  of  its  own  kind.  Nobody  says  that  he  has  seen 
young  of  the  Cuculus,  and  yet  it  breeds,  although 
not  in  a  nest  which  it  has  made  itself:  but  sometimes 

1  Such  a  tradition  is  still  common  in  many  parts  of  this  country  and 
on  the  Continent. 


68  Cuculus — Crex 

interdum  in  nidis  minorum  auium,  &  oua,  quae 
aliena  reperit,  edit :  maxime  uero  nidos  palu- 
[p.  56J  bium  petit,  quorum  &  ipforum  oua  efu  abfumit, 
fua  relinquens  :  parit  maiori  ex  parte  fmgula  oua, 
raro  bina.  Curucae  quoque  in  nido  parit,  fouet 
ilia  &  excudit  &  educat.  Quo  quidem  praeci- 
pue  tempore1  &  pinguis  &  grati  faporis  pullus 
cuculi  eft.  Genus  eorum  quoddam  nidos  facere 
procul  in  petris  excelfis,  praeruptiscj?  affolet. 

Cuculum  hie  nobis  fatis  graphice  depinxit  Ariftoteles, 

Curuca  a      fi   curucam  eadem  diligentia   defer  ipfiffet,    non  fidffet 

titlyng.          kodie  tarn  omnibus  fere  incognita  qua  nunc  eft.     Ego 

fufpicor  Anglorum  titlingam  effe  curucam  Ariftotelis. 

Nam  nullam  auem  in  uita  frequentius  cuculi  pullum 

fequentem,  &  pro  fuo  educantem,  quam  illam  obferuaui. 

Eft  autem  ilia  lufcinia  minor,  fed  eadem  corporis  figura, 

colore  fubtiiridi,  culices  &  uermiculos  in  ramis  arborum 

fettatur,  rarb  humi  conftftit,  hyeme  non  cernitur. 

BE   CRECE    EX    ARISTOTELE2. 

[p-  57]  Sed  cu  omnibus  quaterni  digiti  fmt,  tres 
parte  priore  habentur,  unus  parte  pofleriore 
pro  cake,  ut  tute  fit,  qui  minutus  ineft  ijs,  quae 
longa  habent  crura,  ut  in  crece  euenit3.  Eft4 
autem  crex  moribus  pugnacibus,  ingenio  ualens 
ad  uiclum,  fed  caetera  infcelix. 

Eft  auis  qucedam  apud  Anglos,  longis  cruribus, 
ccetera  coturnici,  ni/i  quod  maior  eft,  ftmilis,  quce  in 
fegete  &  lino,  iiere  et  in  principio  czftatis  non  aliam 

1  This  apparently  means  'when  in  the  nest.'     How  then 
does  Aristotle  say  that   'no  one  has   ever  seen  the  young'? 
The  passage  may  be  an  interpolation,  as  may  be  another  which 
follows  referring  to  Hawks.     If  so,  the  fact  of  nesting  on  rocks 
may  also  refer  to  Hawks,  and  be  a  further  interpolation. 

2  Hist.  An.  Bk  n.  46. 

3  ' ut...evenit.'     These  words  are  not  in  Aristotle. 

4  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  91. 


Ciiculus — Crex  69 

in  the  nests  of  smaller  birds,  and  it  devours  the  eggs 
of  the  others  that  it  finds.  It  mostly  seeks  the  nests 
of  the  Palumbes  and  eats  those  birds'  eggs,  leaving 
its  own  behind.  For  the  most  part  it  lays  a  single 
egg  or  rarely  two.  It  also  lays  in  the  Curuca's  nest, 
and  that  bird  sits  upon  the  eggs,  hatches  and  rears 
the  young.  And  at  that  time  indeed  the  offspring  of 
the  Cuculus  is  both  particularly  fat  and  of  a  grateful 
flavour.  A  certain  kind  of  Cuculus  is  wont  to  make  its 
nest  far  off  on  steep  and  very  lofty  rocks. 

Here  Aristotle  has  portrayed  the  Cuculus  to  us  most 
graphically,  and,  had  he  described  the  Curuca  in  the  same 
careful  way,  it  would  not  at  this  day  have  been  so  little 
known  to  almost  everyone  as  now  it  is.  The  Curuca  of 
Aristotle  I  suspect  to  be  the  Titling1  of  the  English.  For 
I  have  observed  no  other  bird  in  life  more  frequently  than 
this  following  the  Cukkow's  young  and  rearing  it,  as  though 
its  own.  Now  it  is  less  than  the  Luscinia,  but  with  the  same 
figure  of  body,  and  in  colour  somewhat  green  ;  it  hunts  for 
gnats  and  little  worms  among  the  boughs  of  trees.  It  seldom 
settles  on  the  ground,  and  is  not  seen  in  winter. 

OF  THE  CREX  FROM  ARISTOTLE. 

But  seeing  that  all  birds  have  four  toes  each,  three 
are  directed  forwards  and  one  backwards  by  way  of 
a  heel,  for  safety's  sake ;  the  last  is  very  small  in 
such  as  have  long  legs,  as  happens  with  the  Crex. 
Further  the  Crex  is  of  pugnacious  habit,  clever  in 
procuring  food,  but  of  bad  omen  otherwise. 

There  is  a  certain  bird  in  England  with  long  legs,  otherwise 
like  a  Quail,  except  that  it  is  bigger,  which  in  spring  as  well 
as  early  summer  makes  no  other  cry  among  the  corn  and  flax 

1  It  is  impossible  to  say  with  certainty  what  Turner's  '  Titlyng '  was ; 
but  probably  he  meant  the  Tree- Pipit,  which  he  confounded  with  the 
Titlark. 


70         Crex — Aves  Diomedece — Ficedula 

habet  uocem,  quam  crex  crex:  hdc  enim  uocem  femper 
ingeminat^  quam  ego  Ariftotelis  crecem  ejfe  puto. 
Angli  auem  illam  uocant  a  daker  hen,  Germani  etyn 
fcfyrtyf.  nufquam  in  Anglia  niji  in  fola  NortJiumbria 
uidi  &  audiui. 

D£    DlOMEDEIS    AVIBUS     EX     PLINIO  \ 

Nec  Diomedeas  praeteribo  aues.  lubacata- 
ractas  uocat,  &  eis  effe  detes,  oculoscj*  igneo 
colore,  caetera  cadidos  trades.  Duos  femper 
[p-  58]  ijs  duces,  alterum  ducere  agmen,  alterum  co- 
gere.  Scrobes  excauare  roftro,  inde  crate 
cofternere,  &  operire  terra,  quae  ante  egefta 
fuit,  in  his  foetificare.  Fores  binas  omniu  fcro- 
bibus,  orientem  fpeclare,  quibus  exeant  in 
t  occafum  pafcua,  f  occidentem,  quibus  redeant.  Aluum 
exoneraturas  fubuolare  femper,  &  contrario 
flatu.  Vno  hae  in  loco  totius  orbis  uifuntur,  in 
infula,  quam  diximus  nobilem  Diomedis  tumulo, 
atque  delubro,  contra  Apulie  oram,  fulicarum 
fimiles.  Aduenas  barbaros  clangore  infeftant. 
Graecis  tantum  adulantur,  miro  difcrimine,  uelut 
generi  Diomedis  hoc  tribuetes,  aedemcj^  eius 
quotidie  pleno  gutture  madetibus  pennis  per- 
luunt. 

DE   FICEDVLA. 

[p.  59]        SftfaTu?,  ficedida   Latine   (lifla,    non    eft    Germa- 
norum  fneppa,  quce  locis  gaudet  humidis,  &  folis  uer- 

1  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  xliv. 


Crex- — Aves  Diomedece — Ficedula  71 

than  crex  crex,  and  moreover  it  repeats  this  sound  incessantly; 
I  think  that  it  is  Aristotle's  Crex.  This  bird  the  English  call 
a  Daker  Hen,  and  the  Germans  eyn  schryk1.  I  have  not  seen  or 
heard  it  anywhere  in  England,  save  in  Northumberland  alone. 

OF  THE  AVES  DIOMEDE.E  FROM  PLINY. 
And  I  will  not  omit  the  birds  of  Diomede2,  which 
Juba  calls  Cataractae,  telling  us  that  they  have 
teeth  and  fire-coloured  eyes,  but  otherwise  are  white. 
They  always  have  two  captains,  one  to  lead  the 
band,  the  other  to  bring  up  the  rear.  These  birds 
dig  furrows  with  the  beak,  then  cover  them  with 
wattlework,  and  hide  this  with  the  earth  thrown  out 
at  first ;  in  these  places  they  breed.  Each  furrow 
has  two  openings,  one  facing  east,  by  which  they 
may  go  out  towards  their  feeding  grounds,  the  other 
facing  west,  by  which  they  may  return.  They  always 
flutter  out  to  disburden  the  belly,  and  against  the 
wind.  In  one  place  only  of  the  whole  world  are  they 
to  be  seen,  namely  that  island  which  we  have  set 
down  as  famous  for  the  tomb  and  shrine  of  Diomede, 
over  against  the  shore  of  Apulia.  They  are  like 
Fulicae.  Strangers  who  come  there  they  attack  with 
clamour,  only  on  the  Greeks  they  fawn,  with  wonderful 
discernment,  paying  as  it  were  this  tribute  to  the  race 
of  Diomede,  and  every  day  they  purify  his  shrine 
with  brimming  throats  and  water-laden  wings. 

OF  THE  FICEDULA. 

Sv/caX/9,  in   Latin   called   ficedula3,  is  not  the  sneppa  of 
the  Germans,  which  delights  in  wet  localities,  and  feeds  only 

1  Schlegel  (Vog.  NederL  n.  60)  says  that  the  Dutch  schriek  is  the 
Water  Rail  (Rallus  aquaticus),  but  Turner  evidently  means  the  Corn 
Crake  (Crex:  pratensis).     Naumann  (Naturg.  Vog.  DeutschL  ix.  p.  496) 
gives  Schrecke  as  a  local. name  for  the  Corn  Crake. 

2  Apparently  Shearwaters  of  some  species  are  meant.     For  the  story 
see  any  work  on  Mythology. 

3  For  the  supposed  change  of  Ficedula  into  Atricapilla,  see  p.  39. 


7  2      Ficedula — Fringilla  — Montifringilla 

mibus  itefcitur :  fed  auiciila  Ger manor um  grafmufcho 
Jimilis ,  ficubus  &  uuis  uiclitds,  ut  pulchre  his  uerfibus 
Martialis1  teftatur: 

Cum  me  ficus  alat,  &  pafcar  dulcibus  uuis, 
Cur  potius  nomen  non  dedit  inia  mihi? 

DE  FRINGILLA. 

S-Trtfa,  fringilla,  Anglice  a  chaffinche,  a  sheld  appel, 
afpink,  Germanice  etyn  bucfyfmf. 

Fringillce,  autore  Ariftotele,  ceftate  tepidis  locis,  & 
hyeme,frigidis  degunt,  &  inde puto  apud  Latinos  nomen 
accepiffe,  quod  in  frigore  plures  conuolantes  apud  nos 
cernantur,  quam  ceftate.  Pafcerem  magnitudine  cequat, 
uarijs  coloribus,  albo  nempe,  uiridi  &  ruffo  diftinfta  eft. 
mar  is  peftus  rubefcit,  fce.mince  pallefcit:  can  tat  mas 
primo  uere.  Nidulatur  fringilla  in  fummis  fruticum 
ramis,  aut  arborum  infimis,  nidumq-,  intus  ex  lana, 
forisq;  ex  mufco  facit. 

DE  MONTIFRINGILLA. 
Opoo-Tuf???,  motif ringilla,  Anglice  a  bramlyng,  Ger- 
manice etyn  ronjert. 

ARISTOTELES  2. 

[p.  60]  Montifringilla  fringillae  fimilis  eft,  &  magni- 
tudine proxima :  fed  collo  cceruleo  eft,  &  in 
montibus  degit,  unde  nomen  accepit. 

Auicula,  quam  ego  montifringillam  ejfe  credo,  frin- 
gill<z  magnitudine  &  corporis  figura  Jimilis  eft:  fed 
mas  in  collo  plumas  habet  cceruleas,  quas  no  ceqzie 
prompte  in  fcemina  deprcehendas.  Roftrum  luteum  eft, 
&  alee  uarijs  coloribus,  albo,  nigro,  &  luteo  nimirum 
diftinguutitr,  ut  auriuittis.  Vox  illi  infuauis  &  ftri- 
dula  eft. 

1  Epig.  Lib.  XIII.  xlix. 

2  Hist.  An.  Bk  vin.  41. 


Ficedula — Fringilla — Montifringilla  7  3 

on  worms1;  but  is  a  little  bird  like  the  grasmusch  of  the 
Germans,  living-  upon  figs  and  grapes,  as  Martial  prettily 
bears  witness  in  these  lines : — 

Since  the  fig  gives  me  nourishment,  and  I  feed  on  sweet  grapes, 
Why  has  the  grape  not  rather  given  me  a  name  ? 

OF  THE  FRINGILLA. 

^TTi^a,  fringilla,  in  English  a  chaffinche,  a  sheld-appel2, 
a  spink,  in  German  eyn  buchfink. 

Fringillse — on  Aristotle's  authority — in  summer  haunt 
warm  places,  and  in  winter  cold  ;  and  thence  I  think  that 
they  received  their  name  among  the  Latins3,  for  when  it  is 
cold  more  are  seen  flocking  round  us  than  in  summer  time. 
In  size  the  bird  equals  a  Sparrow  and  is  marked  with  various 
colours,  namely,  white  and  green,  and  russet.  In  the  male 
the  breast  is  ruddy,  in  the  female  pale.  The  male  sings 
in  the  early  spring.  The  Fringilla  nests  upon  the  highest 
boughs  of  shrubs  or  on  the  lowest  boughs  of  trees,  and 
fashions  its  nest  inwardly  of  wool  and  outwardly  of  moss. 

OF  THE  MONTIFRINGILLA. 

'Opoo-Trtf?;?,  montifringilla,  in  English  a  bramlyng,  in 
German  eyn  rowert. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Montifringilla  is  like  the  Fringilla,  and  similar 
in  size,  but  with  a  blue  neck  ;  and  it  lives  in  mountains, 
whence  it  has  its  name. 

The  little  bird  which  I  believe  to  be  the  Montifringilla, 
in  size  and  shape  of  body  is  like  the  Fringilla,  but  the  male 
has  blue  feathers  upon  the  neck,  which  one  cannot  perceive 
so  quickly  in  the  hen.  The  beak  is  yellow,  and  the  wings 
in  truth  are  marked  with  various  colours,  yellow,  black  and 
white,  as  in  the  Aurivittis.  Its  note  is  unmelodious  and 
grating. 

1  See  p.  35. 

2  Shell-apple,  or  Apple-sheiler  is  still  a  Northumbrian  name  for  the 
Chaffinch.     The  word  *  sheld '  may  mean  '  parti-coloured.' 

3  Here  Turner's  mistaken  etymology  (Fringilla  afrigore)  is  evident. 


74  Florus — Fitlica 

DE  FLORO  EX  ARISTOTELE\ 
Anthos,  fiue  florus,  uermibus  pafcitur,  & 
magnitude  illi,  quanta  fringillae  eft.  uiclitat 
circa  aquas  &  paludes,  &  ei  color  pulcher  eft, 
&  uita  commoda,  odio  equum  habet,  pellitur 
enim  ab  equo  pabulo  herbse,  qua  uefcitur. 
Nubeculans,  nee  ualens  oculorum  acie  eft, 
quippe  qui  uocem  equi  imitetur,  atque  aduolans 
[p.  61]  equum  fuget :  fed  interdum  excipiatur  occi- 
daturcj?  ab  equo.  In  aegithum  florus  tantum 
odium  gerit,  ut  ne  mortuarum  auiu  fanguis 
poffe  mifceri  dicatur. 

DE  FVLICA. 

}LeTr<f)os,ftilica,  Anglice  a  uuhite femanu  miitk.  a  blak 
cop.  Germanice,  etyn  ft>tyf  mett>e. 

Recentiores  Greed,  qui poft  Ariftotelem  fcripferunt, 
larum  &  cepphum  eandem  auem  fecerimt,  lit  Erafmtts 
in  Adagio,  \dpos  /centos,  ex  Arijlophane1  &  eius  inter- 
prete  oftendit.  Ariftoteles  nerb  duas  facit  diuerfas  aues 
libro  de  hiftoria  animalium  oflauo  his  uerbis,  eari  8e 
Xa/)o?  6  Xeu/co?  KOI  /ceTrtyos.  lam  qua  nam  ratione 
autores  iftos  concilie,  nefcio,  niji  dicam  poet  as  rerum 
peculiares  &  proprias  notas,  &  difcrimina,  philofophis 
multb  negligentius  obferuantes,  aues  corporis  figura, 
natalibus,  &  ui£lus  ratione  fi.miles,  licet  manifeftis  notis 
differentes,eafdem  aues  feciffe,  quas  feueriores  philosophi 
ad  amujfim  omnia  expendentes,  in  diuerfas  fpecies  dif- 
tinxerunt. 

Sed  inter  huius  cetatis  grammaticos,  non  minor  eft 

opinionum  uarietas  de  fulica,  qu&'nam   ilia  Jit,  qudm 

[p.  62]  inter  Grcecos  de  nomine  controuerjia  fuit.     Simt  enim 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  vm.  41  and  Bk  ix.  18,  22,  freely  rendered. 

2  Pax,   1.    1067.     By  'interpreter'   is   evidently   meant   the 
Scholiast,  who   says   that  the  Proverb   is  used  of  those  who 
promise  much,  and  perform  little. 


Flo  rus — Fulica  7  5 

OF  THE  FLORUS  FROM  ARISTOTLE. 

The  Anthos,  that  is  Florus,  feeds  on  worms  ;  its 
size  is  that  of  the  Fringilla.  It  gets  victual  round 
waters  and  marshes  ;  its  colour  is  fair,  and  its  life 
easy  to  it.  It  holds  the  Horse  in  hatred,  inasmuch 
as  it  is  driven  by  the  Horse  from  the  grassy  pastures 
where  it  feeds.  It  is  purblind  and  nowise  keen  of 
eyesight,  while  it  imitates  the  neighing  of  the  Horse, 
and  flying  at  it  puts  the  Horse  to  flight,  yet  sometimes 
it  is  caught  and  then  killed  by  the  Horse.  The  Florus 
has  so  great  a  hatred  of  the  ^Egithus  that  it  is  stated 
that  the  blood  of  these  two  birds,  even  when  dead, 
cannot  be  mixed. 

OF  THE  FULICA. 

KeV^o?,  fulica,  in  English  a  white  semaw,  with  a  black 
cop,  in  German  eyn  wyss  mewe. 

The  later  Greeks,  who  have  written  after  Aristotle,  have 
made  the  Larus  and  the  Cepphus  the  same  bird,  which  fact 
Erasmus  in  his  Proverb  Xa/oo?  KCTT^O^  shews,  from  Aristo- 
phanes and  his  interpreter.  But  Aristotle  in  the  eighth  book 
of  his  History  of  Animals  keeps  the  two  birds  distinct,  using 
the  following  words: — "There  is  the  \dpos  that  is  white,  also 
the  /te7n£o9."  Now  in  what  way  to  reconcile  these  authors 
I  know  not,  unless  I  say  that  poets  who  observe  more 
negligently  than  philosophers  the  peculiar  properties  of 
things,  and  their  diversities,  have  made  these  birds  the  same, 
which  are  alike  in  form  of  body,  breeding-time,  and  way  of 
feeding,  although  differing  in  manifest  respects,  whereas  philo- 
sophers, more  strict  than  they,  gauging  all  things  exactly, 
have  distinguished  them  as  different  kinds. 

And  yet  there  is  not  less  diversity  of  opinion  among 
the  critics  of  our  day  about  the  Fulica,  and  what  that  bird 
may  be,  than  there  was  controversy  among  the  Greeks  about 
its  name.  For  there  are  teachers  of  a  sort1  in  Lower 

1  '  Literatores '  is  here  apparently  used  in  a  somewhat  scornful  sense. 


7  6  Fulica 

in  inferiori  Germania  literatures  aliqui,  qui  fulicam 
kyuuittam  fuam  ejfe  uolunt,  ex  eo  forfan  opinionem  fuam 
adftruentes,  quod  apud  Plinium  fulicce  cirrum  tribui 
Angloru  legerint.  Eft  autem  Germanorum  kyuuitta  cornice 
apuumga.  minor,  plumis  fere  uiridibus,  et  nigris  per  to  turn  dorfum 
et  caput  et  collii :  uentre  albo,  longa,  &  femper  erec~la  in 
capite:  crifta  plumea,  alis  obtufeoribus,  &  inter  uo- 
landum  magnum  ftrepitum  edentibus,  unde  &  uannellus 
a  barbaris  dicitur:  aquis  uermium  gratia,  quibus  folis 
uiclitat,  appropinquat,  fed  ipfas  non  ingreditur,  in 
planis  &  in  locis  erica  confttis,  plurimum  degit.  Ad 
depopulandum  uermes,  noftrates  in  hortis  fcepe  ahmt. 

Sed  hanc  effe  fulicam  non  patitur,  quod  Vergilius 
de  fulica  Georgico rum  primo 1  ad  hunc  modum  fcribit : 

lam  Jibi  turn  curuis  male  temperat  unda  carinis, 
Ciim  medio  celeres  reuolant  ex  cequore   mergi^ 
Clamoremfy  ferunt  ad  littora^  cumfa  marines 
In  ficco  ludimt  fulicce. 

Hinc  fatis  liquet  kyuuittam  non  effe  fulicam,  quum 
non  Jit  auis  marina  nee  aquatica.  Non  defunt  qui 
fulicam  gallinam  illam  nigram  aquaticam,  alba  in 
fronte  macula,  effe  uolunt.  Sed  ifti  Vergil,  et  Arifto- 
[p.  63]  telis  autoritate  facile  err  or  is  conuincuntur,  quorum  alter 
auem  facit  marinam,  alter,  nempe  Ariftoteles  lib.  oflauo 
hiftoricz  animalium,  apud  mare  tiiuere  teftatur.  Quare 
quum  paluftris  ilia  gallina  neque  auis  Jit  marina,  neq; 
apud  mare  uictum  pet  at,  fed  in  ftagnis,  paludibus,  & 
recentibus  aquis  perpetub  degat :  nee  Vergilij  fulica,  nee 
Ariftotelis  ^eV(/)09  effe poterit.  Sed  iam  reftat,  ut  quam 
auem  fulicam  effe  iudicem,  ojhndam. 

Eft  auis  marina,  magnitudine  monedulce,  fed  alis 
acutioribus  &  longioribtts,  colore  tota  albo,  excepto  nigro, 
quern  in  capite  gerit  cirro :  roftro  etiam  &  pedibus 
puniceis.  Hanc  ego  fcepe  in  mari  nauigans,  ex  eo 

1  Lib.  i.  1.  360—3. 


Fulica  77 

Germany,  who  will  have  it  that  the  Fulica  is  their  Kywit, 
possibly  resting  their  opinion  on  what  they  have  read  in 
Pliny  of  a  tuft  being  attributed  to  the  bird  Fulica.  The 
Kywit  of  the  Germans  is,  however,  smaller  than  a  Cornix, 
with  the  plumage  almost  green  and  black  on  the  whole  back 
and  head  and  neck,  the  belly  white,  a  long  and  always 
upright  feathery  crest  upon  the  head,  and  somewhat  rounded 
wings,  which  during  flight  make  a  great  hurtling,  whence  it 
is  even  named  by  foreigners  Vannellus.  It  approaches  waters 
for  the  sake  of  worms,  on  which  alone  it  feeds,  but  does  not 
enter  them.  It  mostly  lives  in  open  country,  and  in  places 
overgrown  with  heather.  Our  people  often  keep  this  bird  in 
gardens,  to  destroy  the  worms. 

And  yet  what  Vergil  in  this  manner  writes  in  the  first 
book  of  his  Georgics  of  the  Fulica  will  not  permit  this  bird 
to  be  his  Fulica : — 

"And  now  the  waters  scarce  restrain  themselves  from  the  ships' 
curving  keels,  while  the  swift  Mergi  wing  their  way  once  more  out  of  the 
Ocean's  midst,  bringing  their  noisy  voices  to  the  shore,  and  while  the 
Fulicae,  frequenters  of  the  sea,  disport  themselves  on  land." 

Hence  it  is  clear  enough  that  the  Kywit  is  not  the  Fulica, 
since  it  is  not  a  sea-bird  nor  a  water-bird.  There  are  not 
wanting  those  who  would  have  that  black  Water  Hen,  with 
a  white  frontal  patch,  to  be  the  Fulica1.  But  on  the  strength 
of  Vergil  and  Aristotle  such  are  easily  convicted  of  mistake, 
for  one  of  these  makes  it  a  sea-bird,  and  the  other,  namely 
Aristotle  in  the  eighth  book  of  his  History  of  Animals,  bears 
witness  that  it  lives  about  the  sea.  Wherefore,  since  that 
Marsh  Hen  is  neither  a  sea-bird  nor  seeks  its  food  about 
the  sea,  but  constantly  haunts  pools,  and  marshes,  and  fresh 
waters,  it  can  neither  be  the  Fulica  of  Vergil  nor  the  /ce-Tr^o? 
of  Aristotle.  But  it  still  remains  that  I  should  shew  what  bird 
I  judge  the  Fulica  to  be. 

There  is  a  sea-bird2,  like  a  Daw  in  size,  but  with  the  wings 
sharper  and  longer,  wholly  white  in  colour,  save  for  a  black 
patch  which  it  bears  on  the  head,  and  with  the  beak  and  feet 
of  purplish  red.  I  often,  journeying  upon  the  sea,  have  had 

1  I.e.  the  Coot  (Fulica  atra). 

2  The  Black-headed  Gull  (Larus  ridibundus). 


/  8  Fulica — Gavia 

tempore,  quo  hiftoriam  animalium  Arijlotelis  legeram, 
conftderaui,  tti  prcefertim,  quando  uel  deficiente  uento, 
uel  flante  contrario,  emijfa  anchora,  uentum  fequundi- 
orem  quiefcentes  expeclauimus.  H<zc  Jlatim  foluta  an- 
chora,  gauijs  comitata  aduolat,  ex  purgamentis  nauis 
eiectis,  efcce  nonnihil  Jlbi  promittens,  diutino  clangore 
defatigata,  tandem  keph  profert,  ut  lari  cob.  unde  a 
noftris  marini  cobbi  dicuntur.  Fieri  poteft,  ut  in  fuli- 
carum  genere  qu&dam  Jint  cinerece,  licet  Plin.  tibi  ex 
autoritate  lubce  Diomedeas  aues,  fulicis  Jimiles  albas 
effe  tradit,  uidedtur  fulicas  omnes  albas  facere,  warn 
[p.  64]  non  de  eo,  quod  rarius,  fed  frequentius  accidit,  in  genere 
loquuntur  clajjici  fcriptores.  Niduldtnr  lari  &  fulicce 
in  eifdem  locis^  in  exceljis  nempe  petris,  &  marinis 
rupibus. 

DE    GAVIA. 

Aa/)o?,  gauia,  a  fe  cob  or  a  feegell. 

Gauiarum  duo  genera  Arijlot.  facit:  alterum 
album,  quod  apud  mare,  alterum  cinerium,  quod  circa 
lacus  &  fltiuios  ui£lum  quczrit.  Gauiam  albam  a  fulica 
parum  differ  re  arbitror,  folo  nimirum  cirro  et  rojlro. 
Gauia  cinerea,  qucz  ad  flumina  &  lacus  afcendit,  que- 
rula  femper  &  clamofa  eft.  pifciculos  captat  &  uermes 
ad  ripas  lacuum.  huius  generis  eft  &  alia  parua  auis, 
noftrati  lingua  fterna  appellata,  qticz  marinis  laris  ita 
ftmilis  eft,  ut  fola  magnittidine  &  colore  ab  illis  differre 
tddeatur :  eft  enim  ifte  larus,  marinis  minor  &  nigrior. 
Tota  ceftate  tarn  improbe  clamofa  eft,  quo  tempore  par- 
turit,  ut  iuxta  lacus  &  paludes  degentes,  immodico  cla- 
more  tantum  no  obtundat.  hdc  ego  fane  auem  effe  credo, 
cuius  improba  garrulitas  adagio,  Larus  partzirit,  locum 
fecit,  uolat  fere  perpetub  fuper  lacus  &  paludes,  nunqud 
quiefcens,  fed  prcedcz  femper  inhians.  Nidulatur  hcec 
in  denjls  arundinetis.  Marince  gauia  in  petris  & 
rupibus  maritimis  nidificant. 


Fit,  lie  a —  Gavia  7  9 

this  bird  in  mind,  from  the  time  that  I  read  Aristotle's 
History  of  Animals,  and  then  especially  when  through  the 
wind  failing  or  blowing  contrary,  the  anchor  being  dropped, 
we  have  been  calmly  awaiting  a  more  favourable  wind.  The 
anchor  being  weighed  this  bird  immediately  flies  to  us  in 
the  company  of  Gulls,  promising  something  to  itself  by  way 
of  food  out  of  the  refuse  cast  forth  from  the  ship  ;  at  last 
exhausted  by  its  constant  cries  it  merely  utters  "  keph,"  as 
Gulls  cry  "  cob."  And  hence  they  are  called  Sea-Cobs  by 
our  countrymen.  It  may  be  that  some  of  the  race  of  Fulicae 
are  grey,  though  Pliny,  when  on  the  authority  of  Juba 
he  relates  that  the  birds  known  as  Diomede's  are  white 
like  Fulicae,  seems  to  put  down  all  Fulicae  as  white ;  for 
classical  authorities  speak  not  in  any  class  of  what  more 
rarely,  but  of  what  more  frequently  occurs.  Gulls  nest  in 
the  same  places  as  do  Fulicae,  forsooth  on  lofty  crags  and 
rocks  about  the  sea. 

OF  THE  GAVIA. 

A«po9,  gavia,  a  se  cob  or  a  see-gell. 

Aristotle  makes  two  kinds  of  Gaviae,  one  white,  which 
seeks  its  food  about  the  sea,  the  other  grey,  which  seeks  it 
round  the  lakes  and  rivers.  Now  I  think  that  the  white 
Gavia  differs  but  little  from  the  Fulica,  only  indeed  as  to 
the  hood  and  beak.  The  grey  Gavia,  which  comes  up  to  our 
rivers  and  lakes,  is  always  querulous  and  full  of  noise.  It 
catches  little  fishes  and  eats  worms  upon  the  banks  of  lakes. 
There  is  another  small  bird  of  this  kind,  called  Stern1  in  local 
dialect,  which  is  so  like  the  sea  Lari  that  it  seems  to  differ 
from  them  only  in  its  size  and  colour;  for  it  is  a  Larus, 
though  smaller  than  the  sea  Lari  and  blacker.  Throughout 
the  whole  of  summer,  at  which  time  it  breeds,  it  makes  such 
an  unconscionable  noise  that  by  its  unrestrained  clamour  it 
almost  deafens  those  who  live  near  lakes  and  marshes.  This 
I  certainly  believe  to  be  the  bird  whose  vile  garrulity  gave 
rise  to  the  old  Proverb  "  Larus  parturit."  It  is  almost  always 
flying  over  lakes  and  swamps,  never  at  rest,  but  always  open- 
mouthed  for  prey.  This  bird  nests  in  thick  reed-beds.  The 
sea  Gaviae  breed  on  crags  and  rocks  about  the  sea. 
1  The  Black  Tern  {Sterna  nigrd). 


80  Galeriia 

[p.  65]  DE   GALERITA. 

K6pv8o$,  r)  tcopv&aXos,  Ang.  a  lerk  or  a  lauerock, 
Germa.  etyn  lerd).  Plinius  naturalis  hiftorice  undecimo 
libra,  galeritam  Gallico  uocabulo,  poflea  alaudam  ejfe 
dic~tam  oflendit.  quare  galeritce  potius  uocabulo,  quam 
alaudce  Latinis  utendum  effe  ex  autoritate  Plinij  cenfeo. 

ARISTOTELES   DE  GALERITIS'. 

Galeritarum  duo  funt  genera  :  alterum  ter- 
renum  criftatum,  alteru  gregale.  nee  fmgulare 
more  alterius,  uerum  colore  fimile,  quaquam 
magnitudine  minus,  &  galero  cares,  cibo  uero 
idoneu,  galeritse  nunqua  in  arbore  confiftunt, 
fed  humi 2. 

Prius  hoc  A  riftotelis  genus  uariam  habet  in  uarijs 
regionibus  crtftam,  alicubi  femper  apparentem  :  in  alijs 
locis  talem,  ut  pro  arbitratu  fuo  pojjit  erigere  aut  depo- 
nere,  quu  una  eademq-,  Jit  utriufq-,  auis  magnitudo.  & 
galeritam  hanc  maiorem,  Angliproprie  lercam  nominant. 
a  uuilde  A  Iterum  genus  A  ristotel.  a  noftris  fera  alauda,  a 

lercoraheth  Qermanis  fafo  (ercb  nominatur,  in  plants  &  locis  erica 
lerk. 

r     661  ^onjitis,   &  ad  ripas  lacuum,  uermium   caufa,  quibtis 

uittitat,  magna  ex  parte  degit.  Duplo  fere  fuperiore 
minus  eft,  &  roftro  tenui,  &  carne  longe  fuauijjima. 
a  uuodlerck.  Supereft  tertium  galeritce  genus,  Germanis  copera,  a 
IdgiJJima  crifta,  tit  arbitror,  ita  dic~tum,  A  riftoteli  plane 
incognitum:  nam  prius  A  riftotelis  genus  effe  non  poteft, 
quia  minor  eft  quam  ut  illud  effe  pofjit :  minus  autem 
illud  genus  effe  non  poteft,  quia  galerum  habet,  qui 
A  riftotelis  pofteriori  generi  deeft.  Quare  galerita  ifta, 
Ariftoteli  fuit  incognita.  Et  cum  Colonienfes  aucupes 
coperam  (qtice  medics  eft  magnitudinis  inter  Arijlotelis 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  101. 

2  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  66. 


Galerita  8 1 

OF  THE  GALERITA. 

,  77  Kopv$a\os,  in   English   a   lerk   or  a  laverock, 
in  German  eyn  lerch. 

Pliny,  in  the  eleventh  book  of  his  Natural  History,  has 
shown  us  that  Galerita1,  taken  from  a  Gaulish  word,  was 
called  Alauda  afterwards,  wherefore  I  think  that  on  Pliny's 
authority  the  name  of  Galerita  should  be  used  by  those 
who  write  in  Latin  rather  than  Alauda. 

ARISTOTLE,   OF  THE   GALERITA. 

Of  Galeritae  there  are  two  kinds,  one  is  a  crested 
ground-bird,  but  the  other  lives  in  flocks,  not  singly 
as  the  former.  Yet  in  colour  it  is  similar,  though  of 
a  smaller  size,  and  not  having  a  crest.  Moreover  it 
is  fit  for  food.  The  Galeritae  never  sit  upon  a  tree, 
but  always  on  the  ground. 

The  first  kind  given  by  Aristotle  has  in  different  lands 
a  different  crest,  in  one  place  always  evident,  elsewhere  such 
that  the  bird  can  raise  or  lower  it  at  will,  although  the  size 
of  either  is  one  and  the  same.  This  larger  Galerita  English- 
men call  the  Lerc  proper,  while  Aristotle's  second  sort  is 
by  our  countrymen  named  a  Wilde  Lerc,  and  by  the  Germans 
a  heid  lerch  ;  this  for  the  most  part  lives  in  open  country, 
and  in  places  overgrown  with  heather,  and  on  banks  of  lakes, 
for  the  sake  of  the  worms  on  which  it  feeds.  This  bird  is 
smaller  by  nearly  one  half  than  the  aforesaid,  with  a  slender 
beak,  and  flesh  by  far  the  sweetest. 

There  still  remains  a  third  kind  of  Galerita,  the  Copera 
of  the  Germans,  thus  named  I  believe  from  its  very  long 
crest,  and  certainly  unknown  to  Aristotle,  for  it  cannot  be 
his  first  kind,  inasmuch  as  it  is  smaller  than  that  bird  can 
be ;  likewise  it  cannot  be  the  smaller  sort,  because  it  has 
a  crest,  which  is  not  present  in  the  latter  kind.  Wherefore 
this  Galerita  was  unknown  to  Aristotle.  And  since  the  fowlers 
of  Colonia  [Cullen]  with  one  accord  assure  us  that  the  Copera 
(which  is  midway  in  size  between  Aristotle's  crested  Galerita 

1  Galerita  is  usually  supposed  to  have  some  connexion  with  the  Latin 
galea  =  a  helmet. 

T.  6 


82  Galerita — Galli  et  Gallince 

galeritam  criftatam,  &  non  crijlatani)  concordibus  ad- 
firment  fuffragijs,  hanc  nulld  habere  peculiarem  canti- 
unculam,  fed  inepte  alt  arum,  quibuscum  uiffiitat,  aidum 
uoces  referre,  adducor  plane  ut  credam  hanc  effe  recen- 
tiorum  Grcecorum  corydon,  cuius  in  fequenti  adagio 
mentio  eft  evd/j.ov<risl  KOI  Kopv&os  (frQeyyercu,  &  in 
hoc  uerfu  : 

el  KVKVW  Bvvarai   KOpvSos   7rapa7r\r)(Tiov  abeiv. 

Nd  galerita  maior,  pulchre  &  fuauiter  cantat,  & 
minorem  cantu  non  minus  ualere  tradunt  aucupes.  Hcec 
igitur  quum  uoce  nihil pof/it^fed  inepte  tantkm  aliarum 
uoces,  fuo  garritu  mentiri,  recentiorum  Grcecorum  erit 
corydos. 

[p.  67]  DE   GALLIS  ET 

ga  Hints. 

h\eKTa>p,gallus,  Anglice  a  cok,  Germanice  et)tt  f)an. 
AXeVropt?,  gallina,  Anglice  a  hen,  Germanice,  etyn  fyen. 
Saxones  dicunt  e^n  ()on. 

VARRO2    DE    RE    RUSTICA    LIBRO    TERTIO. 

Rufticse  Gallinae  rufticse,  funt  in  urbe  rarse,  nee  fere 

manfuete  fine  cauea  uidentur  Romse,  fimiles 

Villatic^.  facie  non  his  uillaticis  gallinis  noilris,  fed 
Africanis  afpeftu,  ac  facie  incontaminata.  In 
ornatibus  publicis  folent  poni  cum  pfiticis  ac 
merulis  albis,  item  id  genus  rebus  inufitatis. 
Neque  fere  in  uillis  oua  ac  pullos  faciunt,  fed 
in  fyluis. 

Africang.  Gallinae  Africanae,  funt  grandes,  uariae,  gib- 

Meleagrides.  berae,  quas  Meleagrides  Graeci  appellant.      Hae 

nouiffimae  in   triclinium   ganearium   introierunt, 

[p.  68]  e  culina  propter  faftidium  hominu.     Venerunt3 

propter  penuriam  magno.     De  tribus  generibus, 

gallinae    faginantur  maxime    uillatice.      Eas  in- 

1  Undoubtedly  the  reading  should  be  : — eV  a/zouo-ots- =  among 
those  with  little  voice.     Both  these  proverbs  are  to  be  found  in 
the  Adages  of  Erasmus,  Chil.  II.  Cent.  ii.  92. 

2  Bk  III.  cap.  ix. 

3  No  doubt  a  misprint  for  '  veneunt'  =  are  sold. 


Galerita — Galli  and  Gallince  83 

and  the  non-crested)  has  no  song  of  its  own,  but  feebly 
imitates  the  notes  of  other  birds  with  which  it  feeds,  I  am 
assuredly  led  to  believe  that  it  must  be  the  Corydos  of  the  later 
Greeks,  of  which  mention  is  made  in  the  proverb  below : — 

'Ez>a/LtoL><rt9  /cat  6  /copvSos  QOeryyerai, 
and  in  this  verse  : — 

el  KVKvqy  Svvarai,  Kopvbos  7rapa7r\rjcri,ov  a&eiv. 
For  the  larger  Galerita  sings  fairly  and  sweetly,  and  the 
fowlers  say  that  in  its  song  the  smaller  kind  is  worth  no 
less.  Wherefore  the  third  kind,  since  it  has  no  power  of 
voice  except  feebly  to  imitate  the  voices  of  the  others  by  a 
twitter  of  its  own,  will  be  the  Corydos  of  the  later  Greeks. 

OF  THE  GALLI  AND  GALLING. 
,  gallus,  in  English  a  cok,  in  German  eyn  han. 

,  gallina,  in  English  a  hen,  in  German  eyn  hen. 
The  Saxons  say  eyn  hon. 

VARRO,  IN  HIS  THIRD  BOOK  DE  RE  RUSTICA. 

The  wild  Gallinae  are  rare  in  a  city,  and  are 
scarcely  seen  at  Rome  tame,  unless  in  a  cage  :  they 
are  not  in  appearance  like  the  Gallina^  of  our  country- 
houses,  but  in  look  recall  the  African,  and  have  the 
face  unmarked1.  During  public  festivities  these  birds 
are  wont  to  be  exhibited  with  Psitaci,  white  Merulse, 
and  other  unfamiliar  kinds  of  that  description.  They 
do  not  usually  lay  their  eggs  or  hatch  their  young  at 
country-houses,  but  among  the  woods. 

The  African  Gallinse,  which  the  Greeks  call  Mele- 
agrides,  are  big,  speckled,  and  hunch-backed.  They 
have  been  the  last  to  enter  the  dining  room  of  eating- 
houses  from  the  kitchen  through  people's  fastidiousness. 
And  from  their  rarity  they  have  advanced  to  a  great 
price.  Of  the  three  kinds  those  of  the  country-house 
are  chiefly  fattened.  These  they  keep  shut  up  in 

1  It  is  impossible  to  reconcile  the  statements  of  Varro  and  Columella 
as  they  stand.  Various  alterations  of  the  text,  which  is  possibly  unsound, 
have  been  suggested. 

6—2 


84  Galli  et  Gallince 

cludunt  in  locum  tepidum  &  anguftum  &  tene- 
brofum,   quod   motus  eariim  &  lux    pinguedini 
inimica,  eleclis   ad  hanc  rem  maximis  gallinis, 
nee  continue  his,  quas  Melicas  appellant  falfo, 
Callus  me-    quod  antiqui  ut  thetim  thelim  dicebat,  fie  Me- 
bau^cokor    dica  Melica  uocabant.      Hae   primo  Medice  di- 
a  cok  of        cebantur,  quia  ex  Media  propter  magnitudinem 
erant  allatae. 


kynde. 


COLUMELLA  \ 

Gallinaru   ali9   funt  cohortales,  alie   ruftice, 

Cohortalis.     alie  Africane.     Cohortalis  eft   auis,  quae  uulgo 

Ruflica.         per    omnes    fere     uillas     confpicitur.     Rustica, 

quae  non  diffimilis  uillatice,  per  aucupem  deci- 

[p.  69]  pitur,  eacj*  plurima  eft  in  infula,  qua  nautse  in 

Liguftico    mari   fitam,   produclo    nomine    alitis, 

Africana.       gallinaria    uocitauerunt.       Africana    eft,    quam 

plerique   Numidicam  dicunt,  meleagridi  fimilis, 

nifi  quod  rutilam  galeam,  &  criftam  capite  gerit, 

quae  utraque  in  Meleagride  funt  coerulea. 

PLINIUS  2. 

Simili  modo  pugnant  Meleagrides  in  Boe- 
Africae.  otia.  Africae,  hoc  eft  gallinarum  genus  gibbe- 
rum,  uarijs  fparfum  plumis,  que  nouiffime  funt 
peregrinarum  auium  in  menfis  receptae,  propter 
ingratum  uirus :  uerum  Meleagri  tumulus  no- 
biles  eas  fecit. 

ARISTOTELES  3. 

[p.  70]  Item  Hadrianae  paruo  quidem  funt  corpore, 
fed  quotidie  pariunt.  Ferociunt  tamen  &  pul- 
los  faepe  interimut.  Color  his  uarius.  Oua4 

1  De  re  rustica,  Lib.  vin.  cap.  ii. 

2  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  xxvi. 

3  Hist.  An.  Bk  vi.  i. 

4  Hist.  An.  Bk  vi.  5. 


Galli  and  Gallince  85 

a  warm,  narrow,  and  dark  place,  for  exercise  and  light 
hinder  the  fattening.  The  largest  birds  are  chosen 
for  this  purpose,  and  not  always  those  which  men 
mistakenly  call  Melicae,  because  the  ancients,  as  they 
used  to  say  Thelis  for  Thetis,  also  used  to  call 
Medica  Melica.  At  first  they  were  called  Medicae 
because  on  account  of  their  size  they  were  brought 
hither  out  of  Media. 

COLUMELLA. 

Of  Gallinae  some  are  court-yard  birds,  others  again 
are  wild,  others  are  African.  The  court-yard  bird  is 
that  which  commonly  is  seen  at  nearly  every  country- 
house.  The  wild  sort,  which  is  not  unlike  that  of 
the  country-house,  is  trapped  by  bird-catchers.  It 
is  abundant  in  the  island  lying  in  the  Ligurian  sea, 
which  sailors,  lengthening  the  bird's  name  out,  have 
called  continuously  Gallinaria.  The  kind  from  Africa, 
which  many  call  Numidica,  is  like  the  Meleagris, 
save  that  on  its  head  it  bears  a  helmet  and  a  crest 
of  red,  but  in  the  Meleagris  both  of  these  are  blue1. 

PLINY. 

In  a  like  way  the  Meleagrides  fight  in  Bceotia. 
The  Africae,  that  is  a  hunch-backed  kind  of  Gallinae, 
are  sprinkled  here  and  there  with  variegated  feathers  ; 
and  they  are  the  last  of  foreign  birds  to  be  received 
at  table,  on  account  of  their  unpleasant  flavour :  but 
the  tomb  of  Meleager  has  ennobled  them2. 

ARISTOTLE. 

Likewise  the  Hadrianic  birds  are  small  indeed  in 
body,  but  they  lay  their  eggs  daily.  Yet  they  are 
fierce  and  often  kill  their  chicks.  They  are  of  varied 

1  See  Art.  Guinea  Fowl  in  Prof.  Newton's  Diet.  B.  p.  399. 

2  The  reader  may  here  be  referred  to  any  work  relating  to  mythology. 


86  Galli  et  Gallince — Gallinago 

alia  Candida  funt,  ut  columbarum  &  perdicum, 
alia  pallida,  ut  paluftrium,  alia  punftis  diftinfta, 
ut  Meleagridum  &  phafianorum. 

In  pattcis  iftis,  quos  recenfui  autoribus,  no  pauccz 
funt  de  rebus,  quas  tractauere,  cotrouerficz.  Varro 
primu  gallinas  rufticas  non  uillicatis^  fed  Africanis 
Jimiles  ejfe  fcribit.  Columella  ante  rnjlicam  non  dif- 
Jlmilem  effe  uillaticcz  tradit.  Varro  Africanas,  me- 
leagrides  facit,  quod  &  Plinius  etiam  facere  uidetur. 
Columella  autem  uarijs  notis  Africanas  a  meleagridi- 
bus  dijlinguit.  Ariftoteles  Hadrianas  gallinas  facit 
uarias,  ut  Plinius  itidem  facit,  &  paruo  corpore.  Varro 
Africanas,  quas  non  alias  ejfe  conftat  quam  Hadri- 
anas, uarias  &  grandes  facit.  Verum  tanta  autorum 
inter  fe  dijjidia  componere,  penes  me  non  eft.  Sed  quid 
de  generibus  iftis  fentiam,  paucis  aperiam.  Gallina 
apud  nos  ruftica  nufquam  reperitur,  Jl  gallina  ilia, 
quam  morhennam  uocant  non  Jit,  quam  uarijs  de  caujis 
[p.  71]  ante  attagenem  effe  conieci.  Columellce  meleagrides 
a  kok  of  uidentur  illce  ejfe  aues,  quas  nonnulli  pauones  Indicos 
m  appellant:  nam  illas  paleis*  &  criftis  cceruleis  effe,  in 

confeffo  eft. 

DE   GALLINAGINE. 

K<TKa\w7ra%,  gallinago,  Anglice  a  imod  cok,   Ger- 
manice  e^n  f)d^  fnepff. 

ARISTOTELES  3. 

Gallinago  per  fepes4  hortorum  capitur,  mag- 
nitudine  quanta  gallina  eft,  roftro  longo,  colore 
attagenae,  currit  celeriter,  &  hominem  mire  dili- 
git.  Hsec  in  arbore  nunquam5  fedet,  &  humi 
nidulatur. 

1  A  misprint  for  '  uillaticis.' 

2  Perhaps  the  reading  should  be  galeis,  cf.  p.  69,  11.  6 — 7. 

3  Hist.  An.  Bk  IX.  102.  66. 

4  Aristotle  has  in  addition — epKeo-t  =  in  nets. 

5  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  66. 


Galli  and  Gallince — Gallinago  87 

colouring.  Of  certain  kinds  of  birds  the  eggs  are 
white,  as  those  of  Columbae  and  Perdices,  others  are 
pale,  as  those  of  marsh-birds ;  others  marked  with 
spots,  as  those  of  Meleagrides  and  Phasiani. 

In  those  few  authors,  whose  works  I  have  scanned,  not 
a  few  of  the  things  which  they  have  treated  are  disputable. 
First  Varro  tells  us  that  the  wild-bred  Gallinae  are  not  like 
those  of  country-houses,  but  the  African  ;  while  Columella 
states  that  the  wild  sort  is  not  unlike  that  of  the  country- 
house.  Varro  makes  the  Africanae  to  be  the  Meleagrides, 
which  Pliny  also  seems  to  do.  Yet  Columella  separates  the 
Africanae  from  the  Meleagrides  by  various  characters.  And 
Aristotle  makes  his  Hadrianic  fowls  of  various  colours,  as 
does  Pliny  also,  and  of  little  size.  But  Varro  makes  the 
Africanae  big  and  of  varied  colours,  though  it  is  quite  clear 
that  they  are  nothing  but  the  Hadrianic  birds.  But  after 
all  it  is  not  in  my  power  to  adjust  the  mutual  differences 
of  authors,  when  so  great ;  and  yet  in  a  few  words  I  will 
disclose  what  I  think  of  these  kinds.  The  wild  Gallina  is 
not  found  with  us  in  any  part,  if  it  be  not  that  which  they 
name  Morhen,  and  this  I  formerly  conjectured  to  be  the 
Attagen  for  several  reasons.  The  Meleagrides  of  Columella 
seem  to  be  those  birds  which  some  call  Indian  peacocks1, 
for  they  are  admitted  to  have  wattles  and  blue  crests. 

OF  THE  GALLINAGO. 

'AcrAraXtoTraf 2,  gallinago,  in  English  a  wod  cok,  in  German 
eyn  holtz  snepff. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Gallinago  is  taken  among  the  hedges  of  our 
gardens  ;  it  is  of  the  size  of  a  Gallina,  but  has  a  long 
bill,  and  the  colour  of  the  Attagena :  it  runs  with 
speed,  while  it  is  wonderfully  fond  of  man.  This  bird 
never  sits  on  a  tree  and  it  nests  on  the  ground. 

1  Turner  was,  of  course,  wrong  in  his  conjecture. 

2  Turner  makes  o-KoXo-rrag  the  same  as  do-KaXo>7ra£. 


Gallinago — Colius,  sive  Galgulus 

Gallinagines  apud  noftrates  nunquam,  nijl  hyeme 
uidentur,  quare  de  prole  &  modo  nidulandi,  nihil  habeo, 
quod  died.  Capitur  apud  Anglos  diluculo  potiffimum 
&  crepufciilo  in  fyluis,  retibus  in  loco  arboribus  uacuo, 
fufpenfts,  &  ueniente  aue  demi/fis. 

DE  COLIO,   SIVE  GALGULO1,  UT  VERTIT  GAZA, 
EX   ARISTOTELE. 

[p.  72]  Galgulo  magnitude  quanta  fere  turturi  eft  : 
color  luteus,  lignipeta  hie  admodum  eft,  mag- 
na'que  ex  parte  macerie2  pafcitur,  uoce  emittit 
grandem,  incola  maxime  Peloponefi  hec  auis  eft. 

Omnia,  quce  Ariftoteles  hactenus  colio,  fine  galgulo 
tribuit,  Anglorum  huhulo,  &  Germanorum grunfpecJito 
(Ji  incolam  maxime  effe  Peloponefi  exceperis)  conue- 
niunt.  Nam  turturem  fere  magnitudine  cequat,  ligni- 
peta eft:  maceriem  conttmdit,  &  uocem  grandem  emittit. 
Sed  nihil  hie  definio,  fed  inquiro  tantum.  Galgulus 
Plinio  icleros  Greece  dicitur,  &  Ariftoteli.Ji  Theodoro 
fidimus,  etiam  /ceXeo?.  Quanquam  mihi  textum  Gree- 
cum  confulenti,  alia  auis  /coXto?,  &  alia  /ceXeo?  nidetur : 
nam  /coXio?  ecrrt  ^fXo/co?ro9  <r(f>o$pa,  Kal  vefjuerai  eVt 
T&v  gv\a)v  ra  TroXXa.  Id  eft>  colitis  eft  lignipeta  ualde, 
&  magna  ex  parte  ad  ligna  pafcitur,  o  JJLGV  yap  /ceXeo9 
Trapa  Trora/jiov  olicei  Kal  XoXyLta?3,  quce  uerba  Theodorus 
circa  fruteta  &  nemora  reddidit  fed  recJe'ne  an  fecus, 
docJis  iudicandum  relinquo.  Vidi  in  Alpibus  abieti 
inftdentem  auem,  magnitudine  turturis,  itiridibus  uel- 
uti  macnlis  in  luteo  diftinttam,  quce  tota  corporis  effigie 
[p.  j-^picti  Martium  retulit,  fed  caput  reliquo  corpori  {fecus 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  vni.  44. 

2  Possibly  a  misprint  for  '  materie.' 

3  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  22.     In  his  errata  Turner  alters  \6\p.as  to 

-,  but  evidently  he  means 


Gallinago — Colius  or  Galgnlus  89 

Woodcocks  are  never  seen  with  us  save  in  the  winter, 
wherefore  I  have  naught  to  say  about  their  young  or  mode  of 
nesting.  They  are  chiefly  caught  in  England  in  the  woods 
at  daybreak  and  at  dusk,  by  means  of  nets  hung  in  some 
place  devoid  of  trees,  and  dropped  when  the  bird  comes. 


OF  THE  COLIUS,  OR   GALGULUS,  AS   GAZA  RENDERS 
IT,   FROM  ARISTOTLE. 

Of  the  Galgulus  the  size  is  almost  that  of  the 
Turtur :  it  is  yellowish  in  colour,  and  hacks  timber 
very  much,  and  for  the  most  part  feeds  on  trees  :  it 
utters  a  loud  cry.  This  bird  is  mainly  an  inhabitant 
of  the  Peloponnese. 

All  that  Aristotle  has  so  far  attributed  to  the  Colius 
or  Galgulus  is  in  agreement  with  the  Huhol  of  the  English 
and  the  Grunspecht  of  the  Germans  (if  one  may  except  its 
being  chiefly  an  inhabitant  of  the  Peloponnese).  For  it  is 
nearly  equal  to  the  Turtle-Dove  in  size ;  it  hacks  the  timber, 
hammers  rotten  wood,  and  utters  a  loud  cry.  But  I  give  no 
decision  here,  I  only  ask.  The  Galgulus  of  Pliny  is  said  to  be 
called  the  Icteros  in  Greek,  and  if  we  trust  to  Theodorus  [Gaza] 
is  also  the  /ceXeo<?  of  Aristotle.  Though,  on  consulting  the 
Greek  text  /co\tbs  seemed  to  be  one  bird,  and  KeAeo?1  another, 
for  the  reading  was : — #0X^09  ean  gvXo/coTros  a(f)6Spa,  KOI 
ve/juerai  ejrl  r&v  %v\wv  ra  TroXXu.  That  is,  the  Colius  is 
especially  a  wood-hunter  and  for  the  most  part  feeds  on 
wood,  o  jjbev  jap  /eeXeo9  Trapa  Trorafjuov  ol/cei  KOA,  Xo^yLta9, 
which  words  Theodorus  renders  "  around  the  thickets  and 
the  groves,"  but  whether  rightly  so  or  otherwise  I  leave 
to  be  decided  by  the  learned.  In  the  Alps  I  saw  sitting 
upon  a  fir  a  bird  of  the  size  of  a  Turtle-Dove,  marked  as 
it  seemed  with  green  patches  on  yellow,  which  to  me  in  the 
whole  aspect  of  the  body  called  to  mind  the  Picus  Martius, 
save  that  its  head  was  like  in  colour  to  the  rest  of  its  body 

1  Turner  appears  to  have  had  a  text  with  the  word  KcXebs  in  one  place 
instead  of 


9O  Colius,  sive  Galgulus  —  Graculi 

atq\  in  pico  Jit)  colore  fuit  fimile,  tibijs  fttit  breuibus,  et 
capite  erecJo,  &  roftro  longiufculo.  An  hcec  galguli 
fpecies  fuerit,  nihil  ftatuo,  fed  fniffe  fufpicor. 

DE   GRACVLIS. 

Erafmus  in  eruditiffimo  adagiorum  opere,  quoties 
KO\OIOS  occurrit  (pccurrit  aiit  non  raro]graculum  reddit. 
TJieodorum  Gazam  hac  in  re,  licet  alias  lib  enter,  minime 
fecutus,  qni  KO\OLOV  femper  monedulam  nertit.  Ego 
quoq;  hac  in  re  Erafmum  potius  quam  Gazam,  uarijs 
de  caufts,  imitari  decreui  : 

ARISTOTELES    SECUNDUM    TRANSLATIONEM 


Monedularum  tria  funt  genera  :  unum,  quod 
graculus  uocatur,  magnitudine  quanta  cornix, 
roftro  rotundo,  rutilo.  Alterum,  lupus  cogno- 
minatum,  paruu  &  fcurra.  Tertium,  quod  fa- 
miliare,  Lydiae  ac  Phrygiae  terrae,  idem^  palmi- 
pes  eft. 

[p.  74]  Primum  graculonim  genus,  quod  Greed  /copafclav 
iwcant,  Plinio  Pyrrhocorax  eft,  Anglis  a  cornish  choghe, 
Germanis  e^n  ber^bol,  cornice  paulb  minor  eft,  roftro  hiteo, 
paruo,  &  in  fine  nonnihil  adunco,  frequens  eft  in  alpibus, 
&  apud  Anglos  in  Cornubia,  uocem  habet  monedula 
acutiorem,  &  magis  querulam.  Secundum  genus  \VKQ<S 
Kai  /So)yLtoXo^o9,  Greece  dictum,  Latinis  proprie  mone- 


^   quali    monetula    a    moneta   dicitur,    quam   fola 
Monedula. 
Plin.  li.  10.     auium,  ut  inquit  Plinius,  furatur.     Aurum  non  omnia 

tria  genera  fur  antur,  fedfecundum  genus  tantum,  quare 
1  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  100. 


Coitus  or  Galgulus — Graculi  91 

(otherwise  than  it  is  in  Picus),  and  the  legs  were  short, 
the  head  was  upright,  the  beak  rather  long.  As  to  whether 
this  may  have  been  a  kind  of  Galgulus,  I  do  not  certify, 
but  I  suspect  it  to  have  been. 


OF  THE  GRACULI. 

Erasmus  in  his  very  learned  work  on  Proverbs,  as  often 
as  tco\oio<>  occurs  (and  it  occurs  not  seldom)  renders  it  by 
Graculus,  in  this  thing  following  by  no  means  Theodorus 
Gaza — though  at  other  times  he  does  so  freely — who  in  every 
case  renders  /coXoto?  by  Monedula.  And  in  this  thing  I  also 
have  determined  for  divers  reasons  here  to  imitate  Erasmus 
rather  than  Gaza. 

ARISTOTLE  ACCORDING  TO  THE  TRANSLATION  OF 

GAZA. 

Of  Monedulae  there  are  three  sorts :  the  first, 
which  is  called  Graculus,  in  size  as  big  as  Cornix 
with  a  curved  red  bill.  The  next,  also  named  Lupus, 
small,  and  a  mimic.  The  third,  which  is  well  known 
in  Lydia  and  Phrygia,  is  web-footed. 

Now  the  first  kind  of  Graculi,  which  the  Greeks  call 
/copa/cias,  is  the  Pyrrhocorax  of  Pliny  and  the  Cornish  Choghe 
of  Englishmen,  eyn  bergdol  of  the  Germans.  It  is  a  little 
smaller  than  the  Cornix,  with  a  yellow  bill1,  not  large,  and 
somewhat  hooked  towards  the  tip,  it  is  abundant  in  the  Alps 
and  in  Cornwall  in  England.  It  has  a  sharper  and  more 
querulous  cry  than  the  Monedula.  The  second  sort  called 
Xu/co?  and  /3o>yu,oXo%o<?  in  Greek,  is  by  the  Latins  strictly 
named  Monedula,  as  if  it  were  Monetula,  from  the  Moneta 
[money]  which  alone  of  birds,  as  Pliny  says,  it  steals.  The 
three  kinds  do  not  all  steal  gold — only  the  second  does — 

1  Here  there  is  an  evident  confusion  between  the  Chough  (Pyrrho- 
corax graculus)  with  its  red  bill,  and  the  yellow-billed  Alpine  Chough 
(P.  alpinus]. 


92  Graculi 

fecundum  genus  folum  erit  monedula,  de  cuius  furaci- 
tate  pulchre  etid  his  uerfibus  fcribit  Ouidius^: 

Mutata  eft  in  auem,  quce  mine  quoq;  diligit  aurum, 
Nigra  pedes,  nigris  uelata  monedula  pennis. 

Moneduld  Angli  uocat,  a  caddo,  a  chogh  or,  a  ka. 
Germ,  etyn  bo(,  &  Saxon,  etyn  alfe.  Multb  minor  eft 
pyrrhocorace  monedula,  &  in  fyluis  nidulatur,  &  in 

Phalocro-       cauis  arboribus,  &  in  templorti  turribus.    Tertium genus, 
corax. 

Ariftoteles  8  libro  hiftorics  animalium*  ita  defcribit: 

Palmipedum  grauiores  circa  lacus  &  amnes 
uerfantur,  ut  anas,  phalaris,  urinatrix.  Ad  hec 
[p-  75]  bofca  fimilis  anati,  fed  minor,  &  qui  coruus 
appellatus  eft,  cui  magnitude  quanta  ciconiae, 
fed  crura  breuiora,  palmipes  natanscj?  eft,  colore 
niger,  infidet  arboribus  &  nidulatur  in  ijs.  Hec 
Ariftoteles.  Conms  ifte,  nifi  fallar,  Plinio  phalacro- 
corax  eft,  &  Heluetiorum  Vualtrapus,  de  quo  Plin.  ad 
hunc  modum  fcribit* :  lam  &  in  Gallia  Hifpaniac^ 
capitur  attagen,  &  per  alpes  etiam,  ubi  &  pha- 
lacrocoraces,  Balearium  infularum  peculiares : 
ficut  &  alpium  pyrrhocorax.  Et  alibi  de  eodem*: 
Qua^da  animalium  naturaliter  caluent,  ficut 
Phalocro-  flruthiocameli,  &  corui  aquatici,  quibus  apud 

corax  .i. 

coruus  cal-     Graecos  nomen  eft  inde. 
uus. 

1  Metamorph.  Lib.  vn.  11.  467—8. 

2  Bk  viil.  48. 

3  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  xlviii. 

4  Op.  cit.  XL  cap.  xxxvii. 


Graculi  93 

wherefore  this  second  kind  alone  shall  be  Monedula  ;  more- 
over Ovid  happily  describes  its  thievish  habits  in  the 
following  lines  : — 

Was  changed  into  a  bird,  which  even  now  loves  gold, 
Monedula  the  black  of  foot,  in  plumage  black  arrayed. 

The  English  call  the  Monedula  a  Caddo,  Chogh,  or  Ka ; 
Germans  eyn  dol ;  and  Saxons  eyn  alke.  The  Monedula 
is  much  smaller  than  the  Pyrrhocorax,  and  nests  in  woods 
and  hollow  trees  and  towers  of  churches.  The  third  kind 
is  thus  described  by  Aristotle  in  the  eighth  book  of  his 
History  of  Animals  : — 

Of  web-footed  birds  the  heavier  haunt  lakes  and 
rivers,  as  the  Anas,  Phalaris,  and  Urinatrix.  Add  to 
these  the  Bosca,  which  is  like  the  Anas  but  smaller, 
and  that  which  is  called  Corvus,  whose  size  is  that 
of  a  Ciconia,  but  it  has  shorter  legs  ;  it  is  web-footed 
and  a  swimmer  :  black  in  colour,  it  perches  on  trees, 
and  nests  in  them.  So  far  Aristotle. 

Unless  I  err,  this  Corvus  is  the  Phalacrocorax  of  Pliny 
and  the  Swiss  Waltrapus1,  of  which  Pliny  writes  after  this 
fashion : — 

Further,  the  Attagen  is  caught  in  Gaul  and  Spain, 
and  even  on  the  Alps,  where  Phalacrocoraces  also  are, 
proper  to  the  Balearic  isles,  as  the  Pyrrhocorax  is 
to  the  Alps. 

And  in  another  place  of  the  same  bird : — 

Some  animals  are  naturally  bald,  as  Struthiocameli 
and  Corvi  Aquatici,  whence  is  their  name  among  the 
Greeks. 


1  Mr  Rothschild  identifies  this  bird  with  Comatibis  comata  =  C. 
eremita  (L.),  no  doubt  rightly.  See  Bull.  Brit.  Orn.  Club,  XII.  p.  56. 
Novitates  Zoologies,  1897,  p.  371,  and  Pliny,  Lib.  X.  cap.  xlviii. 


94 


Graculi —  Grus 


Graculus 
nucifrag9 
eyn  nouf- 
brecher. 


lam  ut  fciatis  qtialis'nam  auis  Jit  Heluetiorum 
Vualtrapus,  quam  conijcio  phalacrocoracem  effe,  &  ter- 
tium  genus  graculi,  aids  ejl  corpore  longo,  &  ciconia 
paulb  minor e,  crnribus  breuibus,  fed  crajfis,  roftro 
[p.  76]  rutilo,  pariim  adunco,  &  fex  pollices  longo,  albam  quo- 
que  in  capite  maciilam,  &  earn  nudam,  niji  male  me- 
mini,  habuit.  Si  palmipes  fit,  &  interdum  natet, 
indubitanter  tertium  graculonnn  genus  ejfe  adfirma- 
rem:  uerum  licet  auem  in  manibus  habuerim,  an 
palmipes  fuerit  nec'ne^  &  caluus,  non  memini:  quare 
donee  ifthczc  certius  nouero,  nihil  Jlattiam. 

Prater  hcec  tria  graculorum  genera  ab  Arijlotele 
defer ipta,  noui  &  qua j  turn  genus,  quod  in  alpibus 
Rheticis  ttidi,  Arijlotelis  lupo  minus >  nigrum  &  albis 
maculis  per  totum  corpus,  more  fturni  diftinc~tum,  gar- 
riditate  fuperiora  genera  multum  fuperans,  femper  in 
fyluis  &  montibus  degens :  cui  Rheti  nucifragce  nomen, 
a  nucibus  quas  roftro  frangit  &  comedit,  indiderunt. 


DE    GRVE. 

os,  grus,   Anglice    a    crane,    Germanice    e^n 
fran  /  ober  e^n  frarttc^. 

ARTSTOTELES  \ 

Alia  de  ultimis  prope  ueniunt,  ut  grues 
faciunt,  quae  Scythicis  ad  paludes  Aegypto2, 
unde  Nilus  profluit,  ueniunt :  quo  in  loco  pug- 
[p.  77]  nare  cu  pygmeis  dicuntur.  Non  enim  id  fabula 
eft,  fed  certe  genus  turn  hominum  turn  etiam 
equorum  pufillum,  ut  dicitur  eft,  deguntcj?  in  ca- 
uernis,  unde  nomen  troglodytse,  a  fubeundis 
cauernis  accepere.  Grues3  etiam  multa  pru- 
denter  faciunt :  loca  enim  longinqua  petunt,  fui 
commodi  gratia,  &  alte  uolant,  ut  procul  profpi- 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  vin.  75—76. 

2  A  variant  reading  is  ra  ara>  rfjs  Alyvirrov. 

3  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  70. 


Graculi — Grus  95 

And  now,  that  you  may  know  what  sort  of  bird  the 
Svvitzers'  Waltrapus  may  be,  which  I  conjecture  is  the  Phala- 
crocorax,  and  the  third  kind  of  Graculus,  it  is  a  bird  long 
in  the  body,  which  is  rather  less  than  that  of  the  Ciconia, 
and  the  legs  short  but  stout,  the  bill  reddish,  a  little  hooked, 
and  six  inches  in  length — further  it  had  a  white  spot  on  the 
head,  and  that,  unless  my  memory  fails  me,  bare.  If  it  be 
web-footed  and  swim  at  times,  I  should  affirm  that  it  un- 
doubtedly was  the  third  kind  of  Graculus;  but,  though 
I  have  myself  had  the  bird  in  my  hands,  I  do  not  now 
remember  whether  it  was  web-footed  or  not,  nor  whether 
it  was  bald.  Wherefore  I  will  determine  nothing,  until  I  shall 
have  a  surer  knowledge  of  these  things. 

Besides  the  said  three  kinds  of  Graculi  described  by 
Aristotle  I  know  a  fourth,  which  I  have  seen  upon  the 
Rhaetic  Alps,  smaller  than  Aristotle's  Lupus,  black  and 
marked  with  spots  of  white  on  the  whole  body,  as  a  Starling 
is ;  it  far  surpasses  all  the  above-named  kinds  in  chattering ; 
it  always  lives  in  woods  and  mountains.  Now  to  this  the 
Rhetians  have  given  the  name  of  Nucifraga,  from  the  nuts 
which  it  breaks  with  its  bill  and  eats. 


OF  THE  GRUS. 

o9,  grus,  in  English  a  crane,  in  German  eyn  kran, 
or  eyn  kranich. 

ARISTOTLE. 

Others  come  almost  from  earth's  utmost  parts, 
as  do  the  Grues,  which  come  from  the  Scythians 
to  the  Egyptian  marshes,  whence  the  Nile  flows 
forth :  in  which  place  they  are  said  to  fight  with 
Pygmies.  And  this  is  no  mere  fable,  but  assuredly 
there  is,  as  it  is  said,  a  dwarf  race  both  of  men  and 
horses,  and  they  live  in  caves,  whence  they  have  got 
the  name  of  Troglodytae,  from  dwelling  in  caves. 
The  Grues  furthermore  do  many  things  with  prudence, 
for  they  seek  for  their  convenience  distant  places,  and 
fly  high  that  they  may  look  out  far,  and,  if  they  shall 


96  Grus — Hirundo 

cere  poffint,  &  fi  nubes  tempeftatem'ue  uiderint, 
conferunt  fe  in  terra,  &  humi  quiefcut.  Ducem 
etiam  habent,  &  eos,  qui  clament,  difpofiti 1  in 
extreme  agmine,  ut  uox  percipi  poffit.  Cum 
confiftunt,  caeteri  dormiunt,  capite  fubter  alam 
condito,  alternis  pedibus  infiftentes.  Dux  de- 
tec~to  capite,  profpicit,  &  quod  fenferit,  uoce 
fignificat. 

Pipers.  Vipiones  Plin.  dicuntur  minores  grues  &  iuniores, 

[p.  78]  ut  pipiones  iuniores  dicuntur  columbce.     Apud  Anglos 

etiam  nidulantur  grues  in  locis  paluftribus,  &  earum 

pipiones  fcepijjime  uidi,  quod  quidam   extra   Angliam 

nati,  falfuni  effe  contendunt. 

DE   HIRVNDINE. 

XeXiScwz',  hirundo,  Anglice  a  fmiallouue,  Germanice 
e^n  fcfywalb.     Saxonibus  eft  et)n  [male. 

ARISTOTELES2. 

Hirundo  carnibus  uefcitur,  bis  in  anno  parit, 
&  tota  hyeme  latet.  Omnino  ratio  brutorum, 
magna  refert  uitae  humane  fimilitudinem  ma- 
giscjj  in  minori  genere,  quam  in  maiore.  uideris 
intelligentiae  rationem,  quod  primum  in  auium 
genere  hirundo  in  effingendo  coftituendocj*  nido 
ofhendit,  confingit  implicito  luto,  feftucis  ad 
normam  lutariae  paleationis,  &  fi  quado  luti 
inopia  eft,  fe  ipfa  madefaciens,  uolutat  in  pul- 
[p-  79]  uerem  omnibus  pennis.  Stragulum  etiam  facit 
more  hominum  duriore  primum  fubijciens,  & 
modice  totum  confternens,  pro  fui  corporis 
magnitudine. 

1  'dispositi'  is  here  apparently  attracted  to  'qui.' 

2  Four  passages  are  incorporated  in   Turner's   selection : — 
Hist.  An.  Bk  vm.  39,  Bk  vi.  36,  Bk  vm.  107  and  Bk  ix.  51,  52. 


Grus — Hirundo  97 

have  seen  clouds  or  a  storm,  betake  themselves  to 
earth,  and  take  rest  on  the  ground.  They  have  a 
leader  also  and  those  who,  disposed  at  each  end  of 
the  band,  may  call  out,  that  their  voice  may  be  per- 
ceived. The  others  sleep  when  they  alight,  with  the 
head  hidden  underneath  the  wing,  standing  alter- 
nately on  either  foot.  The  leader  gazes  round  him 
with  uncovered  head,  and  by  his  cry  gives  notice  of 
whatever  he  perceives. 

The  smaller,  that  is  younger,  Cranes  are  called  by  Pliny 
Vipiones,  as  young  Doves  are  known  as  Pipiones.  Cranes, 
moreover,  breed  in  England  in  marshy  places,  I  myself  have 
very  often  seen  their  pipers1,  though  some  people  born  away 
from  England  urge  that  this  is  false. 

OF  THE  HIRUNDO. 

XeTuScbz/,  hirundo,  in  English  a  swallowe,  in  German  eyn 
schwalb.  Among  the  Saxons  it  is  eyn  swale. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Hirundo  feeds  on  flesh,  and  lays  eggs  twice 
a  year,  for  the  whole  winter  also  it  lies  hid.  The 
way  of  brutes  upon  the  whole  bears  a  marked  like- 
ness to  the  life  of  man,  and  more  so  in  the  smaller 
than  the  larger  kinds.  One  may  observe  the  under- 
standing way  which  the  Hirundo  foremost  in  the 
ranks  of  birds  shews  in  the  constitution  and  con- 
struction of  its  nest.  It  builds  it  by  applying  mud 
to  straws,  after  the  rule  of  daub  and  wattle  work, 
and  if  there  ever  be  a  scarcity  of  mud,  it  wets  itself 
and  rolls  itself  in  dust  with  all  its  feathers.  It 
moreover  makes  a  bedding  after  the  manner  of  men, 
first  laying  a  foundation  of  the  harder  stuff  below, 
and  moderately  covering  the  whole  in  proportion 
to  its  size. 

1  Young  pigeons  are  still  called  Pipers  in  England. 
T.  7 


98  Hirundo 

PLINIUS  1. 

Hirundines  luto  confhruunt,  fhramento  robo- 

rant.     Si  quando    inopia    eft    luti,   madefa6lum 

Hirundinum  multa  aqua  pennis  puluerem  fpargomt.      Ipfum 

pnmu  genus.  .      .  ,'  '    11M  ,         .     n         .     , 

uero  nidum  mollibus  plumis  noccisq*  confternunt, 
tepefaciendis  ouis,  fimul  ne  durus  fit  infantibus 
pullis. 

Secundu.  Alterum  genus  eft  hirundinum  rufticarum  & 

agreftiu,  quse  raro  in  domibus,   diuerfos  figura, 

fed   eade    materia    nidos    confingunt,    totos    fu- 

pinos,    faucibus    porreclis    in    anguftum,     utero 

[p.  80]  capaci :    mirum  qua  peritia  occultandis  habiles 

pullis,  &  fubfternendis  molles. 

Tertium.  Tertium    hirundinum  genus  eft,   quae  ripas 

t  in  terra  excauant,  atque  ita  t  internidificant.  Non  fa- 
ciunt  hae  nidos,  migrate^  multis  diebus  ante,  fi 
futurum  eft,  ut  auftus  amnis  attingat. 

DE  APODIBUS,   EX  ARISTOTELE  2. 

Nonnullae  aues  depedes3  funt,  quae  ob  earn 

rem   apodes    a    paruitate    pedum    nuncupantur. 

quod   genus    auiculae,    pennis    plurimum    ualet, 

ficut  &  caetera  quoque  prope  fimilia,  ut  pennis 

praeualere,  fie  pedibus  degenerare  uidentur.      ut 

hirundo    &    falcula    fme    riparia4.      Haec     enim 

omnia,  &  moribus,  &  uolatu,  &  fpecie  proxima 

[p.  81]  inter  fe  confpiciuntur.     Apparet  apes  omnibus 

Riparia  fme   anni    temporibus :    riparia    aeftate   tantum    cum 

falcula  ,          .         rr  •         o  o  • 

imber  incelfit :  turn  enim  &  apparet  &  capitur. 

1  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  xxxiii. 

2  Hist.  An.  Bk  i.  10. 

3  KctKoirodes  in  the  Greek. 

4  These  two  words  are  probably  interpolated. 


Hirundo  99 

PLINY. 

Hirundines  build  nests  of  mud,  and  strengthen 
them  with  straw.  And  if  there  ever  be  a  scarcity 
of  mud,  they  sprinkle  a  good  store  of  water  from 
their  feathers  on  the  dust,  which  is  thus  moistened. 
The  nest  itself  they  further  line  throughout  with  soft 
feathers  and  wool,  to  thus  keep  the  eggs  warm,  and 
also  that  it  may  not  be  too  hard  for  the  young  chicks. 

There  is  another  sort  of  the  Hirundines  of  the 
country  and  the  fields,  which  rarely  build  their 
nests  in  houses,  different  in  shape,  but  of  the 
same  material,  and  facing  wholly  upwards,  having 
entrances  prolonged  into  a  strait  with  a  capacious 
belly l ;  it  is  wonderful  how  skilfully  they  are  adapted 
for  concealing  young,  and  soft  for  them  to  lie  upon. 

There  is  a  third  kind  of  Hirundines  which  bore 
in  banks,  and  thus  breed  within  holes.  These  make 
no  nests,  and  migrate  many  days  before,  if  it  be  likely 
that  the  stream  in  flood  should  reach  them. 

OF  THE  APODES,   FROM  ARISTOTLE. 

Some  birds  are  weak- footed,  and  for  that  reason 
from  the  smallness  of  their  feet  are  known  as  Apodes. 
This  kind  of  little  bird  is  very  strong  upon  the 
wing,  just  as  some  others  that  are  nearly  like  it 
seem  to  lose  in  strength  of  foot  proportionately  as 
they  gain  in  power  of  flight,  as  the  Hirundo  and  the 
Falcula,  in  other  words  Riparia.  For  all  these  in 
their  habits,  flight,  and  look  seem  very  near  each 
other.  The  Apes  may  be  seen  at  all  times  of  the 
year,  but  the  Riparia  only  in  summer,  when  the  rains 
begin  :  for  then  it  is  both  noticed  and  is  caught.  In 

1  Pliny  evidently  refers  to  Hirundo   rnfula,  which   builds  a   flask- 
shaped  nest  against  a  cliff. 

7—2 


i  oo  Hirundo 

Apodes.  deniq*  rara  hsec  auicula  eft.  Apodes *,  quos  aliq 
cypfellos  uocant,  fimiles  effe  hirudinum,  iam 
dictum  eft :  baud  enim  ab  hirundine  difcerni 
poffunt,  nifi  quod  tibijs  funt  hirfutis.  Nidum 
fpecie  ciftellae2  produ6lse  logius  fictae  ex  luto, 
imo  aditu  dato  ar6liffimo  faciunt,  id(j3  locis 
anguftis3,  intra  faxa  &  fpecus,  ut  &  belluas,  & 
homines  poffmt  deuitare. 

PLINIUS  4. 

Apodes.  Plurimu  uolant,    que   apodes  uocatur,    quia 

caret  ufu  pedum.  Ab  alijs  Cypfelli  appellantur, 
hirundinum  fpecie.  Nidificant  in  fcopulis.  Hae 
[p-  82]  funt,  quse  toto  mari  cernuntur :  nee  unquam 
tarn  longo  naues,  tamcj*  continuo  curfu,  rece- 
dunt  a  terra,  ut  non  circumuolitet  eas  apodes. 
Csetera  genera  refidunt,  &  infiftunt :  his  quies 
nifi  in  nidis  nulla :  aut  pendent,  aut  iacent. 
Hattenus  P Unites  &  Ariftoteles, 

Arijloteles  tria  tantilm  hirundinum  genera  facit: 

domefticas,   apodes,    &  falculas.     Plinius   autem  qua- 

tuor  genera  facere  uidetur :  domefticas,  rujlicas,  apodes 

&     riparias.       Quod   ft    uerum   fit,    hirundines    do- 

mefticce.,  fanguinolento   pe£lore  nobiles,  erunt  primmn 

genus.     Secundum  genus   maxima  illce  &   nigerrimcs 

hirundines  gregatim  plerumqi  uolantes,  facere  uidentur. 

Tertium  genus,  hirundines  qua  in  funnnis  trirribus  & 

altis  templorum  fenejlris  nidulantur,  efficiunt.     Qitar- 

tum  genus  riparice  fine  falculce  erunt.     Quod  fi   ifta 

diuifio  parhm  arrideat,  ad  primum  genus  referantur 

Hirudines      hirundines  illce  in  domibus  rujlicorum  fempcr  nidifi- 

domeflicg.      cantes,   quce  a    reliquis  generibus,   duce  fanguinolentce 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  108. 

2  Kv^f€\eo-iv  is  the  word  in  Greek. 

3  o-rfixo  ;  another  reading  is  crr€yvw  =  under  cover. 

4  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  xxxix. 


Hiritndo  101 

short  this  little  bird  is  rare.  The  Apodes,  which  some 
call  Cypselli,  are  like  Hirundines,  as  has  been  said 
before,  for  they  are  not  to  be  distinguished  from  the 
Hirundo,  save  by  having  hairy  legs.  The  nest  which 
they  construct  looks  like  a  little  basket  formed  of  mud 
somewhat  drawn  out,  an  entrance  of  the  straitest 
opening  beneath  ;  and  this  they  place  in  cracks  within 
the  rocks  and  caves,  that  they  may  avoid  both  beasts 
and  men. 

PLINY. 

The  birds  which,  because  they  cannot  use  their  feet, 
are  called  Apodes,  live  chiefly  on  the  wing.  They 
are  named  Cypselli  by  some,  in  aspect  they  are  like 
Hirundines.  They  nest  in  crags.  These  are  they 
which  are  seen  on  all  parts  of  the  sea,  nor  do 
ships  ever  leave  the  land  upon  so  long  or  so  con- 
tinuous a  course  but  that  the  Apodes  still  fly  around 
them.  The  other  kinds  alight  and  settle,  but  for 
these  there  is  no  rest  save  in  their  nests  alone,  they 
either  hang  or  lie.  So  far  Pliny  and  Aristotle. 

Now  Aristotle  makes  only  three  kinds  of  Hirundines, 
those  of  the  house,  the  Apodes  and  the  Falculae.  Yet 
Pliny  seems  to  make  four  kinds,  those  of  the  house,  the 
Rusticae,  the  Apodes,  and  the  Ripariae.  If  that  be  true, 
our  House  Swallows,  well  known  from  their  blood-coloured 
breast,  will  be  the  first-named  kind.  Those  very  large  and 
black  Swallows,  that  mostly  fly  in  flocks,  appear  to  form  the 
second  kind.  Those  Swallows  which  make  nests  upon  the 
tops  of  towers,  and  in  lofty  church  windows,  constitute 
the  third.  And  the  Ripariae  or  Falculae  will  be  the  fourth. 
But  should  the  said  division  not  approve  itself,  then  to  the 
first-named  kind  may  be  referred  those  Swallows  which  in- 
variably build  on  the  houses  of  the  country  people.  Two 
patches  of  a  blood  colour,  which  one  may  see  on  each  side 


1 02          fliwmdo — Hamatopus — Junco 

maculce,  quas   utrinque  in  pectore  nideas,  diftinguunt, 
quod  Ouidius1  his  uerfibus  pulclire  ojlendit: 

[p.  83]      Alter  a  tec~ta  fubit,  nee  adhuc  de  peclore  cadis 
Exceffere  notce,  Jignataq;  fanguim  plunia  eft. 

Hoc  prinmm  genus  Angli  a  fuuallouu  nomindt 
&  Germani  etyn  fcfyttnilb. 

Apodes.  Secundum  genus  faciunt  apodes  tarn  maiores  quam 

miiiores.  maiores  uoco  maximas  illas  hirundines,  gre- 
gatim  &  altius  cczteris  uolantes,  quce  in  arbore,  more 
kirundinum  aliarum  nunquam  confiftere  uifuntur.  mi- 
nores  uoco,  qua  in  fcopulis,  templorum  feneftris  ceditiori- 
bus  &  fummis  tnrribns  nidos  figunt.  Maiores  Germani 
uocant  getyr  fwalben,  A  ngli  the  great  funallouues.  Mi- 
nor es  A  ngli  uocant  rok  martinettes  or  chirche  martnettes, 
Germani  uocant  fivc^)  fwalben. 

Falcula  fme  Tertium  genus,  quod  in  ripis  nidulatnr,   Angli  a 

riparia  bank  marine?,   Germani  etyh  iiber3  ftvalbe,  aut  fpetren 

nominant. 

DE    H^MATOPODIBUS,    EX    PLINIO 4. 

Roflrum  &  praelonga  crura  rubra   haemoto- 

podi5  funt,  multo  Porphyrione  minori:  quaquam 

[p.  84]  eadem  crurum  altitudine.     Nafcitur  in  Aegypto. 

Infiftit    ternis   digitis,    prsecipuum    ei    pabulum 

mufcae.     Vita  in  Italia  paucis  diebus. 

Eft  apud  Anglos  in  locis  paluftribus  auis  qutzdam 
longis  &  rubris  cruribus,  noftra  lingua  redfhanca  dic~ta, 
citi  an  defcriptio  h&motopodis  Pliniani  conneniat  nec- 
ne>  qui  apud  Anglos  degunt,  inueftigent  &  examinent. 

DE   IVNCONE. 

^XoivLfcXos,  iunco,  Anglice  a  rede  fparrouu,  Ger- 
manice  ct)ii  m)bt  muf.  Funco,  ut  fcribit  Ariftoteles  oc~tauo 
hiftorioe  animalium,  &  capite  tertio,  ad  ripas  lacuum  & 
fluminum  uic~litat,  &  caudam  frequenter  motitat,  &  ex 
eodem  conftat,  auem  effe  paruam :  nam  turdo  minorem 

1  Metam.  Lib.  VI.  11.  669 — 70.  2  A  misprint  for  'martnet.5 

3  A  misprint  for  '  ufer.'  4  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  xlvii. 

6  Another  reading  is  '  Himantopus,'  but  the  Stilt-Plover  has 
not  a  red  bill. 


Hirundo — Hcematopus — Junco  1 03 

of  the  breast,  distinguish  these  from  the  remaining  sorts,  as 
Ovid  prettily  sets  forth  in  these  verses  :— 

"The  other  haunts  our  roofs,  nor  have  the  marks  of  slaughter  yet 
departed  from  its  breast,  and  its  plumage  is  stained  with  blood." 

The  English  call  this  first  kind  a  Swallow,  and  the 
Germans  eyn  schwalb. 

The  Apodes,  the  greater  and  the  less,  compose  the  second 
kind.  I  call  greater  those  very  great  Swallows  that  fly  in 
flocks,  and  higher  than  the  rest,  which  are  never  observed 
to  settle  on  a  tree,  after  the  manner  of  our  other  Swallows. 
I  call  less  those  which  fix  their  nests  to  rocks,  lofty  church 
windows  and  the  tops  of  towers.  The  greater  kind  the 
Germans  call  geyr  swalben,  and  the  English  the  Great 
Swallowes  ;  but  the  less  the  English  call  rok  martinettes  or 
chirche  martnettes,  the  Germans  kirch  swalben. 

The  third  kind,  that  which  breeds  in  banks,  the  English 
name  a  bank  martnet,  the  Germans  eyn  ufer  swalbe  or  speiren. 

OF    THE     H^MATOPODES,    FROM     PLINY. 

The  Hsematopus  has  its  bill  and  very  long  legs 
red,  and  is  much  less  than  the  Porphyrio,  though  of 
the  same  height  of  leg.  It  is  native  in  Egypt.  It 
stands  on  three  toes  to  a  foot ;  flies  are  its  favourite 
food.  It  lives  in  Italy  but  a  few  days. 

There  is  in  marshy  places  in  England  a  certain  bird  with 
long  red  legs,  called  Redshank  in  our  tongue,  but  whether 
the  description  of  the  Haematopus  of  Pliny  agrees  with  this 
or  not  let  those  who  live  in  England  seek  out  and  enquire. 

OF  THE  JUNCO. 

2%otW;Xo?,  junco,  in  English  a  rede  sparrow,  in  German 
eyn  reydt  muss. 

The  Junco,  as  Aristotle  writes  in  the  eighth  book  of  his 
Historj'  of  Animals,  and  in  the  third  chapter,  lives  on  the 
banks  of  lakes  and  streams,  and  flirts  its  tail  continually ; 
and  it  is  clear  from  him  that  it  is  a  small  bird,  for  he  makes 


1 04    Jitnco — L  ingu  lac  a — L  agopus — L  igit,  rinus 

facit.  Ego  igitur  quum  nullam  aliam  nouerim  aui- 
culam,  iuncis  &  harundinibus  infidentem^  prater  An- 
glorum  pafferem  harildinarium,  ilhtm  iunconem  effe 
iudico.  Auis  eft  parua,  paffere  paulo  minor \  carida 
longiufcula  &  capite  nigro.  ccetera  fufca. 

DE    LINGULACA,     EX    ARISTOTELE1. 

Lingulaca,  quae   Graece  yXwrrts  dicitur  lin- 
[p.  85]  guam    exerit    longam,   unde    nome    habet,   una 
eft  e  coturnicum  ducibus,  formam  habet  auium 
lacuftrium. 

DE    LAGOPODE    EX    PLINIO 2. 

Praecipuo  fapore  lagopus  eft :  pedes  leporino 
uillo  ei  nomen  hoc  dedere.  Cetero  candide3, 
columborum  magnitudine,  non  extra  terrain4, 
in  qua  nafcitur,  earn  uefci  :  quando  nee  uiua 
manfuefcit,  &  corpus  ocoife,  ftatim  marcefcit. 
Eft  &  alia,  nomine  eodem,  a  coturnicibus  mag- 
nitudine tantum  differens,  croceo  tinclu  cibis 
t  gratiffima.  "faptiffima.  Huius  Jioc  uerfu  Martialis*  meminit: 

Si  meus  aurita  gaudet  lagopede  Flaccus. 

DE  LIGVRINO   SIVE   SPINO. 

A/cavdis,  fpinus,  ftue  ligurinus,    Anglice,  a  grene 
finche,  ut  conijcio,  Germanice^  ei)U  fir^ftncfc. 

ARISTOTELES  6. 

[p.  86]  Ligurini,  &  uita  &  colore  ignobiles  funt,  fed 
ualent  uocis  amoenitate7,  &  ex  auium  albo  funt, 
que  carduorum  femine  uefcuntur8.  Florus,  fpi- 
nus,  &  aegithus,  odium  inter  fe  exercet.  Spinus 
etiam  bellum  cum  afino  gerit. 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  vm.  83. 

2  'Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  xlviii. 

3  After  '  dedere '  substitute  a  comma  for  the  full  stop. 

4  Pliny  seems  to  have  written  '  facile '  here,  in  addition. 

5  Epigr.  Lib.  VII.  Ixxxvi. 

6  Three  passages  are  here  combined: — Hist.  An.  vm.  42, 
ix.  22,  IX.  92. 

7  The  words  of  Aristotle  are  (pavr/v  /neVroi  \iyvpav  e^ 

8  See  p.  35. 


Junco — L  ingulaca — Lagopus — L  igurinus      105 

it  less  than  a  Turdus.  Therefore,  since  I  know  no  other  little 
bird  which  sits  upon  the  rushes  and  the  reeds,  save  the  Reed 
Sparrow  of  the  English,  I  believe  that  kind  to  be  the  Junco. 
Now  this  bird  is  small,  a  little  smaller  than  a  Sparrow,  with 
a  longish  tail,  and  a  black  head.  The  other  parts  are  brown. 

OF    THE    LlNGULACA,    FROM    ARISTOTLE. 

Lingulaca,  in  Greek  called  yXcorris,  puts  forth 
a  long  tongue,  whence  comes  its  name  ;  it  is  one  of 
the  leaders  of  Coturnices,  it  has  the  form  of  a  lake- 
haunting  bird. 

OF  THE   LAGOPUS,  FROM   PLINY. 

The  Lagopus  is  in  flavour  excellent,  its  feet  shaggy 
as  in  a  hare  have  given  it  this  name.  Otherwise  it 
is  white,  in  size  as  the  Columbi ;  it  is  not  eaten 
except  in  the  land  of  which  it  is  a  native,  since  it 
is  not  tameable  while  living,  and  when  killed  its  flesh 
soon  putrefies.  There  is  another  bird  of  the  same 
name,  differing  but  in  size  from  the  Coturnices,  most 
excellent  for  food  with  yellow  saffron  sauce. 

Of  this  Martial  makes  mention  in  the  following  verse : — 
If  my  Flaccus  delights  in  the  eared  lagopes. 

OF   THE   LlGURINUS   OR   SPINUS. 

'A/cavOls,  spinus,  or  ligurinus,  in  English  a  grene  finche, 
as  I  suppose,  in  German  eyn  kirsfincke. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Ligurini,  commonplace  in  mode  of  life  and 
colour,  yet  excel  in  pleasantness  of  song.  And  they 
are  of  the  list  of  birds  which  feed  on  thistle-seed. 
The  Florus,  the  Spinus,  and  the  ^Egithus  shew 
mutual  dislike.  The  Spinus  wages  war  moreover 
with  the  Ass. 


io6  Ligurinus  sive  Sfonus — Lutea 

Spinum  Ariftotelis  grenefincam  noftram  effe  arbi- 
tror:  nam  ilia  inter  fpinas  plurimuni  degit,  &  ex 
herbarum  feminibus  uic~titat.  Atiis,  quant  fpimtm  effe 
iudico,  magnitudine  pafferem  cequat,  tota  uiridis  eft, 
prcefertim  mas  in  hoc  genere,  foemina  fere  pallida  eft. 
uefcitur  carduorum  maiorum  femine  &  lapparum,  ut 
auriuittis  minorum,  nidulatur  in  ramis  falicu  aut  pru- 
norum  fylueftriu.  cantat  aincene,  &  tibuui  &  potii  e 
Jittdis  haurire  non  recufat. 

Sed  obijciet  mihi  forfan  quifpiaui,  Jianc  colore  uiridi 
adeoq;  amoeno,  non  poffe  fpinnm  effe,  quem  Ariftoteles 
colore  ignobilem  effe  tcftatur.  Sciat  uelim,  qui  hoc 
mihi  obijcit,  eundem  A  rijlotelem  uiridem  colorem  dam- 
nare^  etiam  in  aue,  qnce  tota  uiridis  eft,  &  a  uiriditate 
nomen  accepit.  Verba  Ariftotelis^  Jicec  funt:  Vireo2, 
qui  totus  uiridis  eft,  docilis  &  ad  uite  munera 
[p.  87]  ingeniofus  notatur,  sed  male  uolat,  nee  grati  eft 
coloris.  Hac  A  riftoteles. 

DE  LVTEA. 

XXft)/)ef9,  hiteus  Jiue  lutea,  Anglice  a  yelouu  kam,  a 
youulryng.     Germanice  etyn  geelgorft. 

ARISTOTELES. 

Luteus  a  colore  partis  fuae  inferioris  pallido 
diclus,  magnitudine  alaudae  eft.  Parit  oua  qua- 
tuor  aut  quinque.  Nidum  fibi  ex  fymphyto 
ftirpitus  euulfo  facit.  Sed  ftragulum  fubijcit  ex 
lana  &  uillo. 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  98,  89. 

2 


Ligurinus  or  Spimis  —  Lutea  107 

I  think  that  Aristotle's  Spinus  is  our  Grenefinc,  for  it 
lives  for  the  most  part  among  thorns,  and  feeds  upon  the 
seeds  of  grasses.  The  bird  which  I  believe  to  be  the 
Spinus  in  its  size  equals  a  Sparrow,  and  is  wholly  green, 
and  in  this  kind  the  male  especially,  the  female  being  some- 
what pale.  It  feeds  upon  the  seeds  of  bigger  thistles  and 
of  burdocks,  as  the  Aurivittis  does  upon  the  smaller  ;  and  it 
nests  on  branches  of  the  willow  or  wild  plum.  It  is  a  pleasant 
songster,  and  does  not  refuse  to  draw  its  food  and  water  up 
in  little  buckets. 

But  some  one  may  perhaps  object  to  me  that  this  bird 
with  its  green  and  somewhat  pretty  colour  cannot  be  the 
Spinus,  inasmuch  as  Aristotle  testifies  that  it  is  common- 
place in  colour.  I  should  like  the  man  who  thus  objects 
to  me  to  know  that  Aristotle  equally  condemns  green  colour 
even  in  a  bird  which  is  entirely  green,  and  from  its  greenness 
has  received  its  name.  These  are  the  words  of  Aristotle  :  — 

"  The  Vireo,  which  is  entirely  green,  is  singled 
out  as  easy  to  be  taught,  and  clever  for  the  business 
of  life  ;  but  it  flies  badly  and  its  colour  is  un- 
pleasing." 

So  far  Aristotle. 

OF  THE  LUTEA. 

XX&^eiV,  luteus  or  lutea,  in  English  a  yelovv  ham, 
a  yowlryng,  in  German  eyn  geelgorst. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Luteus,  so  named  from  the  pale  colour  of  its 
lower  parts,  is  of  the  size  of  an  Alauda.  And  it  lays 
four  eggs,  or  even  five.  It  builds  itself  a  nest  of 
comfrey  torn  up  by  the  roots,  but  spreads  within 
a  covering  of  wool  and  hair. 


1  Aristotle  in  his  History  of  Animals  mentions  three  birds, 

,  and  ^Xeope^y  :  but  Turner's  quotation  with  regard  to  xAeopevy  is 
found  in  Aristotle  under  xXcopts  in  a  passage  (Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  83)  where 
there  seems  to  be  no  alternative  reading. 


io8  Lutea  —  -Luteola  —  Luscinia 

A  uicula,  quam  luteum  effe  credo,  paffere  paulb  maior 
eft.  Marts  pectus  &  neuter  lutea  funt  :  foemince  uerb 
peElus  hiteuni,  &  uenter  pallidus  eft,  in  capite  dorfo 
&  alts,  pennis  fufcis  lutece  intermifcentur.  Roftrum 
utrique  firmum  &  breue,  in  quo  tttbercttm  quoddam 
dentem  mentiens,  reperias,  pr<zter  uermes,  hordeo  & 
auena  libenter  uefcitnr.  Cauda  hums  auiculce  longiuf- 
cula  eft,  &  frequenter  nw  titans. 

DE  LVTEOLA. 

X\o)/H9,  hiteola,  Anglice  a  Jiskin,  Gennanice  etyn 
[p.  88]  je^(t($,  quibusdam  etyn  engel^en. 

Luteola,  lutea  fuperiiis  defcripta,  multb  minor  eft, 
&  color  e  ad  uiriditatem  magis  tendente,  pectore  luteo 
eft,  &  roftro  longiufculo,  tenui  &  acnto,  auriuittis  fimili, 
duas  habet  maculas  nigras  :  alterant  in  fronte,  alterant 
fnb  mento,  cantillat  -non  infnaniter.  Kara  apud 
Anglos  hczc  eft,  nee  ttfpiavi  fere  alibi  quam  in  caueis 
cernititr.  Seme  I  tamen  in  Cantabrigiam's  agris  uidiffe 
recordor.  Huius  generis  funt,  quas  Anglia  aues  cana- 
rias  no  cat. 

DE   LVSCINIA. 

At8&)f,  lufcinia^  philomela,  Anglice  a  nyghtyngall, 
Germanice  e 


ARISTOTELES  \ 

Parit  lufcinia  seftate  quinqj  aut  fex  oua, 
conditur  ab  autumno  ufq^  ad  uernos  dies,  lufci- 
nia2 canere  folet  affidue  diebus  ac  noclibus 
quindecim,  cum  fylua3  fronde  incipit  opacari. 
dein  canit  quidem,  fed  non  affiduo,  mox  adulta 
eftate  uocem  mittit  diuerfam,  no  infuper  ua- 
[p.  89]  riam,  aut  celerem  4  modulatamcjj,  fed  fimplicem, 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk,  v.  31. 

2  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  255. 

3  Aristotle  has  opos  (mountain)  here. 

4  Or  Taelav  =  harsh. 


L  utea — L  iiteola  — L  uscinia  1 09 

The  little  bird,  which  I  believe  to  be  the  Luteus.  is  some- 
what bigger  than  a  Sparrow.  It  is  yellow  on  the  breast  and 
belly  in  the  cock  ;  but  in  the  hen  the  breast  is  yellow  and 
the  belly  pale.  Yellow  are  mixed  with  dark  feathers  upon 
the  head,  back,  and  wings.  In  each  of  them  the  beak  is 
short  and  stout,  and  on  it  one  may  find  a  sort  of  knob 
that  simulates  a  tooth.  Apart  from  worms  it  eats  barley 
and  oats  freely.  The  tail  of  this  small  bird  is  rather  long 
and  is  in  constant  motion. 

OF   THE    LUTEOLA. 

XXcopt?,  luteola,  in  English  a  siskin,  in  German  eyn  zey- 
sich,  or  of  some  eyn  engelchen, 

The  Luteola  is  much  smaller  than  the  Lutea  above  de- 
scribed, and  with  a  colour  tending  more  to  green.  It  has 
a  yellow  breast,  a  longish,  slender,  pointed  bill,  like  that 
in  Aurivittis,  and  two  spots  of  black,  one  on  the  forehead, 
one  beneath  the  chin  ;  it  warbles  with  some  sweetness.  In 
England  it  is  rare,  and  scarcely  to  be  seen  elsewhere  than 
in  cages.  Yet  I  remember  having  seen  it  once  among  the 
fields  of  Cambridgeshire.  Of  this  kind  are  those  which 
England  calls  Canary  birds1. 

OF   THE   LUSCINIA. 

'AySoov,  luscinia,  philomela,  in  English  a  nyghtyngall,  in 
German  eyn  nachtgall. 

ARISTOTLE. 

In  summer  the  Luscinia  lays  five  or  six  eggs, 
but  from  autumn  it  lies  hid  continually  until  the  days 
of  spring.  Now  the  Luscinia  is  wont  to  sing  in- 
cessantly for  fifteen  days  and  nights,  when  woods 
begin  to  become  dark  with  foliage.  Later  it  sings 
indeed,  but  not  incessantly,  then  in  the  height  of 
summer  it  gives  forth  a  different  note,  not  varied 
over  and  above,  or  quick  and  modulated,  but  a  simple 

1  Gesner,  the  first  to  describe  the  Canary-bird,  states  that  Turner 
informed  him  of  it. 


no  Luscinia — Mergus 

colore  etiam  immutatur,  &  quidem  in  terra 
Italia  per  id  tempus  alio  nomine  appellatur, 
apparet  non  diu,  abdit  enim  fefe  &  latet. 

A  riftoteles  prceter  unam  notam  nullam  oftendit  pe- 
culiar em,    qua    ab   alijs   auibus   lufcinia   differret,   ea 
autem  eft  quod  lingua  fummcz  acumine  careat.     Quan- 
quam    &   hoc  etiam   cum   atricapilla   commune  habet. 
Colore  lufcinia,  &  carports  magnitudine  auiculam  illam 
proxime   refert,    quam    Angli    lingettam,   &    Germani 
Graefmufch.  pafferem  gramineum  nominant.     Paffere  paulb  minor 
eft,  &  tenuior,  &  longiori  carports  figura,  color  pefloris 
fere  cinereus  eft,  ccetera  fubfufca. 

DE  MERGO. 

AiQvia,  mergus,  Anglice  a  cormorant,  German,  etytt 

budget. 

ARISTOTELES  \ 

Mergus  marina  auis  eft,  ex  pifcium  uenatu 
uiftitans,  fubit  tame  altius  in  fluuios.  Mergus 
[p.  90]  &  gauia 2  faxis  maritimis  oua  bina  aut  terna 
pariunt.  Sed  gauiae  aeftate,  mergi  a  bruma, 
ineunte  uere.  Incubant  more  caeterarum  auium, 
fed  neutra  earum  auium  conditur. 

Mergus.  Mergus,  auis   eft  magnitudine  fere   anferis  pulla, 

roftro  longo  &  in  fine  adunco,  palmipes  eft,  &  corpore 
graui,  forma  carports  aui  fedenti,  erecta  eft.  Plinius  in 
arboribus  nidulari  fcribit,  at  A  riftoteles  in  faxis  mari- 
timis. Quod  uterq-,  aut  uidit,  aut  a  referentibus  au- 
cupibus  didicit,  fcripto  mandauit.  Et  ego  utrumque 
obferuaui,  nam  in  rupibus  marinis  iuxta  hoftiu  Tines 
fluuij  mergos  nidulantes  nidi,  &  in  Northfolcia  cum 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  I.  6;  Bk  vill.  48,  freely  rendered. 

2  Hist.  An.  Bk  v.  30. 


Luscinia — Mergus  1 1 1 

sound.  It  also  changes  colour,  and  during  that  time 
is  known,  at  least  in  the  land  of  Italy,  by  another 
name ;  it  is  not  seen  for  long,  since  it  conceals  itself, 
and  so  lies  hidden. 

Aristotle  provides  no  special  mark,  save  one,  by  which 
the  Luscinia  differs  from  the  rest  of  birds,  and  that  is  that 
it  lacks  the  point  at  the  tip  of  the  tongue.  Though  even  this 
it  has  in  common  with  the  Atricapilla.  In  colour  and  in  size 
of  body  the  Luscinia  comes  nearest  to  that  little  bird  which 
Englishmen  call  Lingett  and  the  Germans  Grass-Sparrow. 
It  is  a  little  smaller  than  a  Sparrow  and  more  slender,  with 
a  longer  shape  of  body,  and  the  colour  of  the  breast  is  nearly 
grey  ;  the  other  parts  are  brownish. 


OF  THE  MERGUS. 

KWvia,  mergus,  in  English  a  cormorant,  in  German  eyn 
ducher. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Mergus  is  a  sea-bird,  and  it  lives  by  hunting 
fishes,  yet  it  makes  its  way  somewhat  far  up  the 
rivers.  The  Mergus  and  the  Gavia  lay  two  or  three 
eggs  each  upon  rocks  in  the  sea,  the  Gaviae  in  summer 
and  the  Mergi  when  the  spring  arrives  after  the 
solstice.  They  incubate  like  other  birds,  but  neither 
of  these  birds  conceals  itself. 

The  Mergus,  a  sad-coloured  bird,  is  nearly  equal  to  a 
Goose  in  size,  with  the  bill  long  and  hooked  at  the  end  ; 
it  is  web-footed,  heavy  in  the  body,  and  the  attitude  is 
upright  in  the  sitting  bird.  Pliny  writes  that  it  nests  on 
trees,  but  Aristotle  says  on  sea-rocks.  What  each  man  saw 
or  learnt  from  the  reports  of  bird-catchers  he  has  set  down 
in  writing.  And  I  have  observed  both  birds  myself,  for 
I  have  seen  Mergi  nesting  on  sea-cliffs  about  the  mouth 
of  the  Tyne  river,  and  on  lofty  trees  in  Norfolk  with  the 


1 1 2  Mergus — Merops 

ardeis  in  excelfis  arboribus.  Qui  in  rupibus  viaritimis 
nidificant,  ex  prceda  marina  fere  iiiuiit,  qui  uerb  in 
arboribtis,  amnes,  lacus,  &  fluuios,  uictus  caufa  petunt. 

DE    MEROPE    EX    ARISTOTELE1. 

Merops.  Sunt,  qui  meropes  genitorum  fuorum  feneftu- 

tem  educare  conformant,  uicemcj*  reddi,  ut  pa- 
[p.  91]  rentes  non  modo  fenefcentes,  uerum  etia  cum 
iam  datur  facultas,  alantur  opera  liberorum : 
nee  matrem  aut  patrem  exire,  fed  in  cubili 
manentes,  pafci  labore  eorum,  quos  ipfi  genue- 
runt,  enutrierunt,  educarunt.  Pennae  huius 
auis  inferiores  pallide  funt,  fuperiores  coeruleae 
funt  ut  halcyonis :  poftremae  pinnule  rubre 
habentur.  Parit  fex  aut  feptem  aeftate  in  prae- 
cipitijs  mollioribus,  intra  uel  ad  quatuor  cubita 
fubies,  terree  etia  cauernas  fubiens,  cunabula 
facit. 

PLINIUS2. 

Nec  uero  ijs  minor  folertia,  quae  cunabula  in 
terra  faciunt,  corporis  grauitate  prohibente  fub- 
lime  petere.  Merops  uocatur,  genitores  fuos 
reconditos  pafcens,  pallido  intus  colore  penna- 
[P.  92]  rum,  fuperne  cyaneo,  priori  fubrutilo.  Nidi- 
ficat  in  fpecu,  fex  pedum  defoffa  altitudine. 

Meropem  ingenue  fateor  me  nnnquam  uidiffe,  nee 
quequam  couenijfe,  qui  aliquando  uiderit.  Tametji  non 
fum  nefcius  apud  Germanos,  grammaticos  non  indocJos, 
effe,  qui  grunfpechtum  fuum>  meropem  ejfe  doceant :  fed 
Ariftotele  &  Plin.  reclamantibus.  Picus  uiridis  nidum 

1  Hist.  An,  Bk  ix.  82,  freely  rendered. 

2  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  xxxiii. 


Mergus — Merops  1 1 3 

Herons1.  Such  as  make  their  nests  on  sea-cliffs  generally 
live  on  prey  from  the  sea,  but  such  as  breed  on  trees  seek 
rivers,  lakes,  and  streams  to  get  their  food. 


OF  THE   MEROPS,  FROM  ARISTOTLE. 

There  are  some  who  insist  that  Meropes  foster 
the  old  age  of  their  parents  and  thus*  take  their  turn, 
so  that  the  parents  not  in  age  alone  are  nourished 
by  the  labour  of  their  offspring,  but  as  soon  as  power 
is  given  to  these :  that  neither  does  the  mother-bird 
fare  forth  nor  yet  the  father,  but  they  stay  within 
a  resting  place  and  are  fed  by  the  aid  of  those  which 
they  themselves  have  bred,  nourished  and  reared. 
The  plumage  of  this  bird  is  pale  beneath,  but  blue 
above  like  that  in  Halcyon  :  the  pinnules  at  the  end 
of  the  wings  are  reckoned  red.  It  lays  six  or  seven 
eggs  in  summer  in  the  softer  banks,  and  makes  its 
nurseries  by  boring  into  these  for  quite  four  cubits, 
and  it  also  uses  hollows  in  the  soil. 

PLINY. 

Nor  truly  is  less  skill  shewn  by  those  birds  which 
make  their  nurseries  in  the  soil,  since  the  weight  of 
their  bodies  hinders  them  from  mounting  to  a  height. 
The  kind  called  Merops  feeds  its  parents  in  retreat ; 
the  colour  of  its  feathers  underneath  is  pale,  the  upper 
surface  blue,  the  former  being  somewhat  red.  It 
breeds  within  a  hole,  bored  out  six  feet  in  depth. 

In  fairness  I  admit  that  I  have  never  seen  the  Merops, 
nor  have  I  met  anyone  who  ever  saw  it.  Still  I  am  not 
unaware  that  there  are  not  unlearned  schoolmasters  among 
the  Germans,  who  would  teach  us  that  their  grunspecht  is 
the  Merops,  though  against  the  sense  of  Aristotle  and  Pliny. 

1  Compare  with  this  Sir  T.  Browne's  Notes  and  Letters  on  the  Natural 
History  of  Norfolk  (ed.  Southwell)  p.  11  (1902). 

T.  8 


1  1  4  M  crops  —  Merula 

Jibi  roftro  fuo  in  arboribus  facit  :  nbi  enimpicus  arbor  em 
tundes,  illam  ex  fono  fnbcanam  effe  deprcehendit,  in- 

Jlante  tempore  partus,  earn  in  qua  poftea  nidulaturus  eft, 
rojlro  perforat.  Nnlla  ufpiam  arbor  tarn  alta  eft,  quam 
impediente  ulla  corporis  grauitate,  non  uolatu  traijcere 

pojjit.  Penn(B  huius  qnoqne  fuperiores  funt  uirides, 
inferior  esq;y  niji  male  memini,  Lntece  aiit  faltem  pallidce 

funt,  qnare  qunm  merops  proJiibente  corporis  grauitate, 
in  fublime  petere,  atq-,  ideo  in  arboribus  nidnlari  non 

pojfit,  &  fnperne  colore  fit  cyaneo,   Germanonim  picns 

uiridis,  quern  Britanni  a  faciendis  foraminibns,  hnho- 

Meropem       lam    nominant,  merops   Ariftotelis    &    Plinij  effe  non 

non  effe          poterit. 

Germano- 

rumgrun-  DE    MERVLA. 

fpechtum. 

KoTTTu^o?1,  merula,  Anglice  a  blak  of  el,  a  blak  byrd, 

Germanice  ei)U  rnerl,  aut  ei)n  amfel. 

[p.  93]  ARTSTOTELES2. 

Merularum  duo  funt  genera  :  alterum  ni- 
grum  &  uulgare:  alterum  candidum,  magnitudine 
quidem  compari,  &  uoce  fimili,  fed  circa  Cyle- 
nam  Arcadie  familiare,  nee  ufqua  alibi  nafcens. 
Eft  etiam  ex  hoc  genere,  quse  fimilis  nigrae  eft, 
fed  fufca  colore,  &  magnitudine  paulo  minor, 
uerfari  hsec  in  faxis  &  tectis  folita  eft,  nee 
roftrum  rutilum,  ut  merula  habet.  Merula3 
etiam  &  colore,  &  uoce  per  tempora  immutatur. 
Nam  ex  nigra  redclitur  rufa,  &  uocem  emittit 
diuerfam.  Strepitat  enim  per  hyemem,  quum 
per  aeftatem  tumultuans  cantet. 

PLINIUS4. 

Merula,     ex    nigra    ruffefcit,    canit    seftate, 
[p.  94]  hyeme  balbutit,   circa  folftitium    muta,    roftrum 


1  A  misprint  for 

2  Hist.  An.  Bk  IX.  95. 

3  Hist.  An.  Bk  IX.  254;  freely  rendered. 

4  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  xxix. 


Merops — Menla  1 1 5 

Now  the  Green  Picus  makes  itself  a  nest  with  its  own  bill 
in  trees :  for  when  a  Picus  hammering  on  a  tree  discovers 
by  the  sound  that  it  is  hollow  at  the  core,  the  breeding 
season  being  close  at  hand,  it  bores  that  with  its  bill  in 
which  it  afterwards  intends  to  nest.  There  is  not  anywhere 
a  tree  so  tall  which  this  bird  cannot  reach  by  means 
of  flight,  for  any  weight  of  body  that  it  has.  Its  plumage 
is  moreover  green  above  and,  if  my  memory  serves  me, 
yellow  underneath,  or  pale  at  least.  Since  then  the  Merops, 
hindered  by  its  weight  of  body  is  incapable  of  rising  to 
a  height,  and  thus  of  making  nests  in  trees,  and  has  blue 
upper  parts,  the  grunspecht  of  the  Germans,  which  the 
Britons  from  the  holes  it  makes  call  huhol  [that  is,  Hew- 
hole],  cannot  be  the  Merops  known  to  Aristotle  and  Pliny. 

OF  THE  MERULA. 

ROTTING?,  merula,  in  English  a  blak  osel,  a  blak  byrd, 
in  German  eyn  merl  or  eyn  amsel. 

ARISTOTLE. 

Of  Merulae  there  are  two  sorts,  one  black  and 
common,  and  the  other  white,  of  equal  size  indeed 
and  having  a  like  voice,  but  which  is  well-known 
round  Cyllene  in  Arcadia,  and  not  bred  elsewhere. 
There  is  of  this  kind  another  also,  which  is  like  the 
black,  but  dull  in  colour  and  a  little  less  in  size.  It 
usually  haunts  rocks  and  roofs,  but  has  not  the  bill 
ruddy  like  the  Merula.  The  Merula  in  colour  and 
in  voice  moreover  changes  with  the  season,  for  it 
turns  from  black  to  rufous,  and  utters  a  different  cry. 
For  it  chatters  in  winter,  but  sings  lustily  in  summer1. 

PLINY. 

From  black  the  Merula  turns  rufous,  in  summer 
it  sings,  but  in  winter  it  babbles,  and  about  the  solstice 

1  The  readings  in  Aristotle  differ  considerably.     *  Sings  lustily '  may 
go  with  'in  winter.' 

8—2 


1 1 6  Merula — Milvus — Molliceps 

quoqj  anniculis  in  ebur  transfiguratur,  dutaxat 
maribus. 

DE   MILVO   SIVE 
miluio. 

LKTIVOS,  mihtus,  Anglice,  a  glede,  a  puttok,  a  kyte, 
Germanice  etyn  tt>etye. 

PLINIUS  1. 

Milui  ex  accipitru  genere  funt,  magnitudine 
differentes.  I  idem  uidentur  artem  gubernandi 
docuiffe,  caude  flexibus,  in  coelo  monfhrante 
natura,  quod  opus  effet  in  profundo.  Milui  & 
ipfi  hybernis  menfibus  latent,  non  tamen  ante 
hirundines  abeuntes.  Traduntur  &  folftitijs 
affici  podagra. 

ARISTOTELES2. 

Milui  pariunt  bina   magna   ex  parte,   inter- 
dum  &  terna,  totidemcj*  excludunt  pullos.     Sed 
[p-  95]  qui    Aetolius 3   nuncupatur,    uel    quaternos   ali- 
quando   excludit. 

Duo  miluorum  genera  noui,  mains  &  minus:  mains 
colore  propemodum  ruffo  eft,  apnd  Anglos  frequens,  & 
infigniter  rapax.  Pneris  hoc  genus  cibnm  e  manibns  in 
itrbibus  &  oppidis  eripere  folet.  Alterum  genus  eft 
minus,  nigriits,  &  urbes  r anus  frequent ans.  Hoc  genus 
ut  in  Germania  fczpiffime,  ita  in  Anglia  mmquam  me 
uidiffe  recordor. 

DE   MOLLICIPITE. 

MaXa/coKpavevs,  molliceps,  Anglice  a  shrike,  a  nyn 
murder,  Germanice  e^n  nittn  murber. 

ARISTOTELES  4. 

Molliceps  eodem  in  loco  Temper  fibi  fedem 
flatuit,  atque  ibidem  capitur.  Gradi  &  cartila- 

1  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  x. 

2  Hist.  An.  Bk  VI.  38. 

3  Other  readings  are  mywAtos-  and 

4  Hist.  An.  Bk  IX.  98. 


Merula — Milvus — Molliceps  1 1 7 

it  is  dumb.      In  yearlings  furthermore  the  bill  puts  on 
a  look  of  ivory,  provided  they  are  males. 


OF  THE  MILVUS  OR  MILVIUS. 

,  milvus,  in  English  a  glede,  a  puttok,  a  kyte,  in 
German  eyn  weye. 

PLINY. 

Milvi  are  of  the  race  of  Accipitres,  though  differing 
in  size.  They  seem,  moreover,  to  have  taught  man- 
kind the  art  of  steering,  by  the  turning  of  the  tail, 
nature  thus  shewing  in  the  sky  what  might  be  useful 
in  the  sea.  Milvi  lie  hidden  in  the  winter  months, 
yet  not  until  Hirundines  depart.  They  are  reported 
also  to  be  affected  with  the  gout  about  the  solstice. 

ARISTOTLE. 

Milvi  lay  for  the  most  part  two  eggs  each,  but 
sometimes  three,  and  hatch  as  many  young.  But 
that  kind  which  is  named  /Etolian  at  times  lays  even 
four. 

I  know  two  sorts  of  Kites,  the  greater  and  the  less ;  the 
greater  is  in  colour  nearly  rufous,  and  in  England  is  abundant 
and  remarkably  rapacious.  This  kind  is  wont  to  snatch 
food  out  of  children's  hands,  in  our  cities  and  towns.  The 
other  kind  is  smaller,  blacker,  and  more  rarely  haunts  cities. 
This  I  do  not  remember  to  have  seen  in  England,  though 
in  Germany  most  frequently. 

OF  THE  MOLLICEPS. 

Ma\a,KOKpavevs,  molliceps,  in  English  a  shrike,  a  nyn 
murder,  in  German  eyn  nuin  murder. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Molliceps  invariably  takes  its  stand  in  the 
same  place,  and  thereat  it  is  caught.  It  has  a  big 


1 1 8  Molliceps 

gineo  capite  eft,  magnitudine  paulo  minor  qua 
turdus,  ore  firmo,  paruo,  rotiido,  colore  totus 
cinereo  depes1,  &  penis  inualens  eft,  capitur 
maxime  no6lua. 

Mollicipitem  effe  arbitror  auiculam,  quani   Germani 

nuinmurder  non  fine  caufa  nominant.     Porrb  ut  omni- 

[p.  96]  bus  perfpicuum  fit,  qucz'nani  &  qualis  ilia  fit,  formam 

aids   &   mores   quanta   licebit  compendia  perjlringam. 

Magnitudine,  minimum  turdorum  genns  cequat,  e  lon- 

ginquo  contcplanti,  tota  apparet  cinerea.    Propins  autem 

infpicienti,  mentum,  pec~lus  &  neuter  alba  apparent,  ab 

utroqne  ocnlo  ad  collnm  nfque,  longa  &  nigra  macula, 

fed  nonniJiil  obliqna  porrigitur.     Capite  tarn  grandi  efl, 

nt  ani  triplo  maiori  (inodb  roftrnm  longins  &  mains 

ejfef]  proportione  fna  fatis  refponderet.     Rojlro  nigro 

eft,  &  mediocriter  breui,  &  in  fine  adunco,  fed  omnium 

firmijfimo   &  fortijfimo   efi,  utpote  quo  mamim  femel 

meant  duplici  chirotheca  munitam,fauciauerit,  &  aui- 

um  ojfa  &  capita  confringat  &  conterat  quam  ocyf/inie. 

Ala  utraque  nigra  tota  efi,  nifi  quod  alba  linea  graudi- 

ufcula,  mediam   utrinque  alam    tranftierfim    difiingat. 

Caudam  piece  fimilem  habet,  logiufculam  nimirum,  & 

uariam.     Tibias  &  pedes  pro  ratione  corporis  omnium 

minimos,   &  eos  nigros  habet.     Alas   liabet  breues,   & 

iieluti  per  falttis  furfnm  atque  deorfnm  nolitat.      Viuit 

ex  fcarabeis,  papilionibus,  &  grandioribus  infectis :  fed 

non  folis    ifiis,    nerumetiam,    more    accipitris,   auibus. 

Occidit  enim  regulos,fringillas,  &  (quod  ego  femel  nidi} 

turdos.      Tradunt  etiam  aucupes   kanc  picas  quafdam 

[p-  W^fyluefires  inter dum  iugulare,  &  cornices  in  fugam  adi- 

gere.     Aues,  quas  occidit,  non    unguibus,  ut  accipitres, 

uolando  perniciter  adfequitnr,  fed  ex  infidijs  adoritur, 

&  mox  (quod  iam  fcepius  expertus  funt]  ingulum  petit, 

Offifraga        &  cranium  rofiro  comprimit  &  confringit.     Offa  com- 

f/eius^lli'       minuta  &  contufa   deuorat:    &  quando  efurit,  tantos 

magnitude     carnis  bolos  in  gulam  ingerit,  quantos  ric~lns  oris  an- 

adeffet.          guffta  potefi  capere.     Prceter  morem  etiam  reliquarum 

Nam  nee        &  J  ,       ,      .  7 

moribu9,  nee  auium,  quando  ubenor  prczda  contigtt,  nonmkil  in  fu- 

1  CITTOVS.     Another  reading  is 


Molliceps  1 1 9 

and  gristly  head,  and  is  a  little  smaller  than  a  Thrush 
in  size  ;  the  bill  is  strong  but  small,  and  curved ;  in 
colour  it  is  wholly  grey,  while  it  is  weak-footed  and 
feeble  on  the  wing,  it  is  caught  chiefly  by  the  Noctua. 

The  Molliceps  I  think  to  be  that  little  bird  which  Germans 
call  nuinmurder,  not  without  a  cause.  Further  that  it  may 
be  quite  clear  to  all  which  and  what  sort  of  bird  it  really  is, 
I  will  touch  on  its  form  and  habits  as  compendiously  as 
may  be.  In  size  it  equals  the  least  of  the  Thrushes,  and 
to  one  observing  from  afar  seems  wholly  grey.  And  yet, 
to  one  inspecting  it  more  nearly,  the  chin,  the  breast  and 
belly  appear  white,  and  from  each  eye  there  reaches  to  the 
neck,  although  somewhat  oblique,  a  long  black  patch.  It 
has  so  big  a  head  that  (were  the  bill  longer  and  larger)  it 
assuredly  would  answer  in  proportion  for  a  bird  of  thrice  its 
size.  The  bill  is  black  and  moderately  short,  and  hooked 
at  the  tip,  but  is  the  stoutest  and  strongest  of  all,  so  much 
so  that  the  bird  once  wounded  my  hand,  although  protected 
by  a  double  glove,  and  very  speedily  it  crushes  and  breaks  up 
the  bones  and  skulls  of  birds.  Each  wing  is  wholly  black, 
except  that  a  white  line  of  some  size  marks  transversely  the 
middle  of  the  wing  on  either  side.  The  tail  is  like  that  of 
a  Pie,  that  is  to  say,  longish  and  particoloured.  Of  all  it 
has  the  shortest  legs  and  feet  proportionately  to  its  body, 
and  these  parts  are  black.  It  has  short  wings,  and  flies  as 
if  by  bounds  upwards  and  downwards.  It  lives  on  beetles, 
butterflies,  and  biggish  insects,  and  not  only  these,  but  also 
birds  after  the  manner  of  a  Hawk.  For  it  kills  Reguli  and 
Finches  and  (as  once  I  saw)  Thrushes  ;  and  bird-catchers 
even  report  that  it  from  time  to  time  slays  certain  woodland 
Pies,  and  can  put  Crows  to  flight.  It  does  not  seize  the  birds 
it  kills  with  its  claws,  after  a  swift  flight,  as  Hawks  do,  but 
attacks  them  stealthily  and  soon  (as  I  have  often  had  ex- 
perience) aims  at  the  throat  and  with  its  beak  squeezes  and 
breaks  the  skull.  Then  it  devours  the  crushed  and  bruised 
bones,  and  when  anhungered  crams  into  its  gullet  lumps  of 
flesh  as  big  as  the  gape's  narrowness  can  take.  Again, 
beyond  the  habit  of  the  rest  of  birds,  when  prey  happens 
to  be  more  plentiful,  it  lays  by  some  for  future  scarcity. 


I2O  Molliceps — Noctiia — Olor 


colore  ab  ea  turam  penurid   reponit,     Mufcas  enim  grandiores    & 

multum 

abludit. 


multum          infecla  iani  capta  in  aculeis  &  fpinis  arbuftorum  figit 


fufpendit:  omnium  auium  facilime  cicuratur,  & 
manfuefac~la>  carnibus  alitur,  qiuz  fi  fuerint  Jicciores, 
aut  prorfus  exangues,  potum  requirit.  In  A  nglia  fce- 

pius  quam  bis  nunquam  nidi,  in  Ger mania  fcepijjime. 
Nonien  huius  apud  noftros  neminem  inueni,  qni  nouerit, 

prater  Dominum  Francifcum  Louellum,  tarn  animi 
quam  corporis  dotibus  equitem  auratttm  nobilijjfimum. 
lam  Jl  cui  mollicipitis  Arijlotelis  defcriptio  huic  non 
uideatur  per  omnia  conuenire,  tyrannorum  albo  ad- 

fcribat,  aut  auem  oftendat,  cui  defcriptio  melius  competat. 

DE   NOCTVA. 

FXauf,    no£lua,   Anglice   an   ouul,   or  an   houulet, 
[p.  98]  Germanice  etyn  eul  &  e\^n  u(e  Saxonice. 

ARISTOTELES  \ 

Noftuae,  cicuniae2,  &  reliqua,  qu^  interdiu 
nequeunt  cernere,  no6lu  uenando  cibum  fibi 
adquirunt :  uerum  non  tota  nofte  id  faciunt, 
fed  tempore  uefpertino  et  matutino.  Venantur 
autem  mures,  lacertas,  uerticillos,  &  eiufmodi 
beftiolas.  No6luam3  caeterse  omnes  aues  cir- 
cumuolant,  quod  mirari  uocatur,  aduolantescj* 
percutiunt4.  Qua  propter  aucupes  ea  conftituta, 
auicularum  genera  multa  &  uaria  capiunt. 

DE   OLORE. 

Ki>/<;i>o9,  olor,  Anglice  a  fuuan,  Germanice  etyn  fn.>an. 
ARISTOTELES  5. 

Olor.  Olores  palmides6  funt,  apud  lacus  &  paludes 

uiuentes,  qui  nee  probitate  ui6lus,  morum,  pro- 

[p.  99]  lis,    feneftutis    uacant 7.      Aquilam    fi     pugnam 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  122. 

2  Apparently  a  misprint  for  cicumae,  said  to  mean  'horned 
owls.'     Aristotle  has  vvKTiKopaKfs  which  he  identifies  in  Bk  vni. 
84  with  torot. 

3  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  u. 

4  Aristotle  has  n'XXouo-i  =  pluck  it. 

5  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  78. 
0  That  is,  palmipedes. 

7  Aristotle  has  ei>/3i'oroi  de  KCU  evrjdcis  KOI  evTewoi  KOI  fv 


Molliceps— Noctua —  Olor  1 2 1 

For  it  impales  and  hangs  the  bigger  flies  and  insects  on  the 
thorns  and  spines  of  shrubs,  so  soon  as  they  are  caught : 
of  all  birds  it  is  tamed  most  easily,  and  when  accustomed 
to  the  hand  is  fed  on  meat,  and,  should  this  happen  to  be 
somewhat  dry  or  altogether  bloodless,  it  requires  drink. 
In  England  I  have  never  seen  it  oftener  than  twice,  although 
most  frequently  in  Germany.  Among  our  people  I  have 
found  no  one  who  knew  its  name,  except  Sir  Francis  Lovell, 
that  most  noble  knight,  endowed  with  equal  gifts  of  mind 
and  body.  Now  if  Aristotle's  description  of  the  Molliceps 
does  not  appear  to  any  one  in  all  points  to  agree  with  this 
let  him  ascribe  it  to  the  list  of  the  Tyranni,  or  shew  us  a  bird, 
which  the  description  fits  better  than  this. 

OF   THE    NOCTUA. 

r\ai>g,  noctua,  in  English  an  owl  or  an  howlet,  in  German 
eyn  eul,  and  in  Saxon  eyn  ule. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Noctuse,  Cicumae  and  the  rest,  which  cannot 
see  by  day,  obtain  their  food  by  seeking  it  at  night : 
and  yet  they  do  not  do  this  all  night  long,  only  at 
eventide  and  dawn.  They  hunt  moreover  mice,  lizards, 
and  scorpions,  and  small  beasts  of  the  like  kind. 
All  other  birds  flock  round  the  Noctua,  or,  as  men 
say  "  admire,"  and  flying  at  it  buffet  it.  Wherefore 
this  being  its  nature1,  fowlers  catch  with  it  many  and 
different  kinds  of  little  birds. 

OF  THE  OLOR. 
KVKVOS,  olor,  in  English  a  swan,  in  German  eyn  swan. 

ARISTOTLE. 

Olores  are  web-footed,  and  they  live  on  lakes  and 
marshes ;  they  get  food  with  ease,  are  peaceable, 
prolific  and  attain  to  a  great  age.  They  repulse  the 

1  Or,  possibly,  '  the  bird  being  set  down  on  the  ground.' 


1 2  2  Olor —  Onocrotalus 

cceperit,  repugnantes  uincunt.  Ipfi  tamen  nun- 
quam,  nifi  prouocati,  pugnam  inferunt.  Canere 
foliti  funt,  &  iamiam  morituri.  Volant  etiam  in 
pelagus  longius,  &  iam  quidam  cum  in  mari 
Africo  nauigarunt,  multos  canentes  uoce  flebili 
&  mori  nonnullos  confpexere. 

Si  qnis  o  lore  in  uunquam  n  icier  it,  &  ex  hac  Arijlo- 
telis  defcriptione  11011  fails  qualis  fit  aids  didicerit,  fciat 
auem  effe  albam,  anfere  multb  maiorem,  forma  tamcn 
&  uic~tn  femilem,  pedibus  /rigris,  &  roftro  parum  turbi- 
nato,  colore  rntilo,  in  cuius  finnma  parte,  qua  capiii 
committitur,  nigerrimum  tuberculum,  atque  idrotnnduin^ 
&  in  roftrum  fefe  infleclens,  exiftit. 

DE  ONOCRATALO. 

Onocrotalus.  Stint  hodie  11011  parum  multi  eruditione  inter 
otnnes  confpicui,  qui  grandifonam  illarn  lacnftrem  auem, 
Anglis  buttoram  &  Germanis  pittonrum,  &  rof dom- 
inant nocatam,  Onocrotalum  effe  contendant.  Qtiorfi 
[p.  100]  ego  fent entice  lubens  fubfcriberem,  (pulchre  enim  cum 
uoce  auis  nominis  etymologia  connenit:}  nife  Plinij 
autoritas  de  onocrotalo  ad  hunc  modum  fcribentis,  uon 
diffiiaderet.  Onocrotali,  inquit,  olorum  fimilitu- 
dinem  habent,  nee  diftare  uidentur  omnino,  nifi 
faucibus  ipfis  ineffet,  alterius  uteri  genus,  hue 
omnia  inexplebile  animal  congerit,  mira  ut  fit 
capacitas,  mox  perfe6la  rapina,  fenfim  inde  in  os 
reddita,  in  ueram  aluum  ruminantis  modo  refert. 
Gallia  hos  feptentrionalis,  proxime1  oceano  mit- 
tit.  Hcec  P Hums'1. 

1  This  should  apparently  be  '  proxima/  as  some  texts  have  it. 

2  Hist,  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  xlvii. 


I 


Olor —  Onocrotalus  \  2  3 

Aquila  successfully,  should  he  begin  a  fight ;  and  yet, 
unless  provoked,  never  induce  the  fight.  These  birds 
are  wont  to  sing  even  when  just  about  to  die.  They 
also  fly  afar  over  the  main,  and  men  ere  now,  who 
have  been  sailing  on  the  African  sea  have  met  with 
many  singing  mournfully  and  seen  some  of  them  die. 

Should  any  one  have  never  seen  a  Swan,  nor  learnt 
sufficiently  what  sort  of  bird  it  be  from  this  account  of 
Aristotle,  let  him  know  that  it  is  a  white  bird,  much  bigger 
than  a  Goose,  though  like  in  form  and  feeding;  with  black 
feet,  and  a  bill  hardly  spindle-shaped1,  reddish  in  colour; 
on  the  highest  part  of  which,  where  it  adjoins  the  head, 
stands  forth  a  very  black  and  rounded  knob,  sloping  towards 
the  bill. 

OF  THE  ONOCROTALUS. 

There  are  many  to-day  conspicuous  among  all  for  learning 
(to  no  small  degree  who  maintain  that  the  loud-sounding 
lacustrine  bird,  called  Buttor  by  the  English,  and  Pittour 
br  Rosdomm  by  the  Germans,  is  the  Onocrotalus.  To  whose 
opinion  I  would  willingly  subscribe,  (the  more  so  as  the 
etymology  of  the  bird's  name  agrees  well  with  its  voice,) 
did  not  the  authority  of  Pliny  writing  of  the  Onocrotalus 
after  this  manner  dissuade  me  therefrom. 

The  Onocrotali,  he  says,  have  a  similitude  to  the 
Olores,  and  they  do  not  seem  to  differ  in  any  way, 
save  that  there  is  a  kind  of  second  belly  in  the  very 
jaws.  Herein  the  insatiable  animal  crams  everything 
at  once,  so  marvellous  is  its  capacity,  and  presently, 
the  plundering  complete,  it  gradually  returns  all  to  the 
mouth,  and  thence  transfers  it  to  the  real  belly  in  the 
manner  of  a  ruminant.  Northern  Gaul,  where  nearest 
to  the  ocean,  sends  us  these.  So  far  Pliny. 

i  '  This  passage  is  not  easily  rendered,  as  it  is  difficult  to  see  what 
Turner  intended  by  '  turbinato.'  Turbo  is  a  conical  shell,  spindle  and  so 
forth;  but  it  is  hard  to  say  how  a  Swan's  beak  could  be  considered  either 
conical  or  spindle-shaped. 


1 24  OnocrotaliLs 

Nunc  panels  auem  illam  uobis  depingam,  qua 
onocrotalum  effe  affeuerant.  Aids  eft  tota  corporis  fi- 
gura  Ardece  ftmilis.  longis  cruribus,  fed  ardece  breui- 
oribus*  longo  collo,  &  mire  plumofo,  &  roftro  nee  breui 
nee  obtufo.  caput  pennce  tegunt  nigerrimce.  reliquum 
uerb  corpus,  fufcce  &  pallidce  maculis  nigris  denftjjlmc 
refperfce.  Pedes  habet  longijjimos,  nam  inter  extremos 
nngues  medij  digiti  pedis  unius  &  calcis  eiiifdein, 

[p.  \o\~\fpithames  longitttdo  intercedit.  Vngues  habet  longiffi- 
mos,  nam  ille,  qni  calcis  uicem  in  anibus  gerit,  longi- 
tudine  fefquiunciam  fuperat,  quare  ad  fricandos  denies 
noftrates  utuntur,  &  argento  inferunt.  Medins  digitus 
utriufque  pedis ^  qui  cceteris  longior  eft,  nnguem  habet 
portentofum,  nempe  dentatum  &  ferratum,  non  fecus 
atqne  pec~tunculorum  teftce  f errata  funt,  ad  lubricas 
anguillas,  quas  ccepit1,  retinendas,  a  natnra  proculdubio 
ordinatum.  Cauda  illi  breuijjlma  eft,  et  ftomachus 
capaciffimus,  quo  ingluuiei  loco  ntitur.  Ventriculum 
non  cceterarum  auium  uentricidis,  fed  canino  ftmilem 
habet,  &  eum  grandem  &  capacem. 

Sed  ne  cui  falfa  ejfe  nideantur,  qnce  de  hac  aue  iani\ 
fcripft,  ant  ex  aliornm  relatu  potius  quam  certa  experi- 
entia  didiciffe  nidear:  dum  prima  huins  libri  folia 
adhnc  fub  prcelo  effent,  auem  mihi  hanc  contemplanti, 
fecantiq,,  &  nu  tales  haberet  uentriculum  &  ftomacJium, 
quales  Plinius  illi  tribuit,  inueftiganti:  aderant  uir 
eruditijfimus ,  &  abftrufiormn  natnrce  arcanorum  ftudio- 
JlJJlmus  inueftigator  loannes  EcJitJtius,  Medicus  apud 
Colonienfes  celeberrimus :  Cornelius  Sittardus,  Medi- 
cincz  prima  laurea  decoratus.  M.  Lubertus  Eftitis, 
artitim  liberalium  profeffor,  ambo  fimplicium  medica- 
mentorum  pulcJire  gnari,  &  ad  miraculum  ufque  ftndi- 

[p.  102]  oft :  &  Conradus  Embecanus  uir  non  uulgariter  doffius, 
et  Gymnicance  officince  caftigator  injigniter  diligens, 
cum  alijs  aliquot  bonarum  artium  ftudiofts,  qui  me 
nihil  de  hac  aue  hie  fcripftffe  teftari  poffunt  &  uolunt, 
quod  cum  illis  omnibus  non  niderim.  Ad  ripas  la- 
cuum  &  paludium  deftdet,  ubi  roftrum  in  aquas  in- 

1  A  misprint  for  '  cepit.5 


Onocrotahis  1 2  5 

Now  in  a  few  words  I  will  portray  to  you  that  bird 
which  they  assert  to  be  the  Onocrotalus.  In  general  make 
of  body  it  is  like  the  Heron,  with  long  legs,  though  shorter 
than  that  bird's.  The  neck  is  long  and  marvellously  thick 
with  plumes,  the  beak  is  neither  short  nor  blunt.  Very  black 
feathers  clothe  the  head,  but  on  the  body  generally  they 
are  dusky  and  pale,  and  most  thickly  sprinkled  with  black 
spots.  It  has  very  long  feet,  indeed  there  is  a  span's  length 
from  the  claw-tips  of  the  middle  toe  of  either  foot  to  the 
heel  of  the  same.  It  has  very  long  claws,  for  that  which 
serves  in  birds  the  purpose  of  a  heel  exceeds  an  inch  and 
a  half  in  length,  on  which  account  our  countrymen  use  it  to 
pick  their  teeth,  and  mount  it  in  silver.  The  middle  toe 
of  either  foot,  which  is  longer  than  the  rest,  has  a  prodigious 
claw,  that  is  to  say,  toothed  and  serrated,  not  unlike  the 
shells  of  little  scallops  are,  doubtless  contrived  by  nature 
to  retain  the  slippery  eels,  which  the  bird  catches.  The  tail 
is  very  short,  the  gullet  most  capacious,  and  it  uses  it  in  the 
place  of  a  crop.  It  has  a  belly  not  like  that  of  other  birds, 
but  like  that  of  a  dog ;  it  also  is  large  and  capacious. 
But  lest  what  I  have  written  thus  far  of  this  bird  seem 
false  to  anyone,  or  lest  I  seem  to  have  learnt  the  above 
from  the  reports  of  others  rather  than  from  sure  experience : 
while  the  first  pages  of  this  book  were  still  at  press,  and 
while  I  was  examining  the  bird  and  was  dissecting  it,  and 
taking  note  whether  it  really  had  a  belly  and  a  stomach 
such  as  Pliny  had  assigned  to  it,  there  were  assisting  me 
Joannes  Echthius,  a  very  learned  man  and  a  most  zealous 
student  of  the  more  abstruse  secrets  of  nature,  a  physician 
much  renowned  among  the  men  of  Cullen  :  Cornelius 
Sittardus  decorated  with  the  highest  laurel-wreath  of  Medi- 
cine :  Marcus  Lubertus  Estius,  professor  of  the  liberal  arts, 
both  excellently  skilled  in  that  of  simpling,  and  wonderfully 
earnest,  and  as  well  as  these  Conradus  Embecanus,  a  man 
well-informed  in  no  common  degree,  and  a  remarkably  careful 
corrector  in  the  printing-house  of  Gymnicus,  with  certain 
others  versed  in  learned  arts,  who  can  and  will  bear  witness 
to  the  fact  that  I  have  written  nothing  here  about  this  bird 
which  I  have  not  observed  in  company  with  all  of  them. 
It  sits  about  the  sides  of  lakes  and  marshes,  where  putting 


1 26  Onocrotalus — Ortygometra 

ferens,  tantos  edit  bombos,  lit  ad  miliarium  Italicum 

facile  pqffit   aitdiri.     Pifces    &   prcefertim    anguillas 

uorat  aiddi/fime,  nee  ulla  aids  eft,  excepto  mergo,  qiice 

ifta  uoracior  eft.     Nunc  quid  Jimile  Jiabet  ifta  cygno  ? 

NiJiil  plane,  quod  fe  oculis  confpiciendum  offerat.     Et 

Moifes  Leuit.  undecimo  capite,  proxime  cygnnm  inter 

immundas  aues  onocrotalum  recenfet.      Vnde  non    im- 

meritb  fufpicio  quibufdam  orta  eft  in  Gallia,  ant  ludcza 

auem  forma  olori  ftmilem  alicnbi  poffe  reperiri.     Quod 

ft  nufquam  talis  inneniatnr:  probabile  eft,  aut  Plin.  a 

mendacibus  relatoribus  fnis  effe  falfum,  aut  ea,  qu<z  de 

ftmilitudine  inter  onocrotalum  &   cygml  tradidit,  non 

de  corporis  fed  nods  ftmilitudine  intellexiffe.     Nam  & 

olores   interdum    bombos  emittunt   ruditui  aftnino  non 

dijfimiles:  fed  breues,  &  qua  longe  audiri  non  poffunt. 

Veritm  ft  hanc  meant  interpretation^  uarice,  reconditczq; 

eruditionis  uiri,  fids  fnjfragijs  minime  approbauerint, 

[p.  103]  hanc  faltem  Ariftotelis   ardeam  ftellarem   ejfe   mecum 

Onocrota-      confentient.     Nam  prceter  ccetera,  quce  fuperius  attigi, 

dl^Todif"    Arifl°teles  in  fabula  fuiffe  oftendens,  ardeam  ftellarem 

di(flia,  ar-        ex  ferno   auem  fuiffe  f attain,   opinioni   mece   multum 

deam,  effe      patrocinatur.      Vt  fugitiuorum  enim  feruorfl  po ft  fugam 
ftellarem          ,         ,  „-  .    ,     .     „       .       .     .     f    £  J   .     ., 

apud  Ari-       deprcehe forum,  cutis,  loris.flagns,  mrgis,  &  fcorpionibus 

flotelem.  icla,  uerberum  uibicibus,  tota  macitlofa  redditur :  ita 
hidus  aid s  plumes  nigris  u,bique  maculis.fed  potijjimum 
in  tergo,  diftinttcs  &  ueluti  pitturatcs,  ferui  flagris 
ccefi  cut  em  proxime  refer  fit.  'Quam  rem  fabiilcz  occa- 
ftonem  dediffe  ex  Jwc  colligo,  quod  fabularum  uariarum 
autor  Arijfophanes1  %  de  attagene  aue,  quod  ad  pluma- 
rum  colores  attinet,  hide  fimilima,  ad  Jiunc  modum 
f crib  at: 

Si  quis  ex  uobis  erit  fugitiuus  atq;  uftis  notis, 
Attagen  is  fane  apud  nos  uarius  appellabitur. 

DE    ORTYGOMETRA    EX    ARISTOTELE 2. 

Ortygometra,   id  eft,  coturnicu  matrix,  auis 
eft  forma  perinde   ac  lacuftres.      Cruribus  ideo 

1  See  p.  36. 

2  Hist.  An.  Bk  viil.  83,  freely  rendered,  and  interpolated. 


Onocrotalus — Orfygometra  i 2  7 

its  beak  into  the  water  it  gives  utterance  to  such  a  booming 
\  as   may  easily  be  heard   an    Italian   mile  away.      It  gorges 
j  fishes  and  especially  eels   most   greedily,    nor    is   there   any 
;.i  bird,  except   the    Mergus,    that    devours    more.      Now  what 
^resemblance  has  it  to  a  Swan?     Distinctly  none  that  brings 
M  itself  in  view  before  our  eyes.     Now  in  the  eleventh  chapter 
1  of  Leviticus  Moses  enumerates  the  Onocrotalus  next  to  the 
Swan  among  the  unclean  birds.     And  a  suspicion  has  arisen 
thence,  not  undeservedly,  within   a  certain  class,  that  some- 
where within  Gaul  or  Judaea  a  bird  of  Swan-like  form  may 
possibly  exist.     If  such,  however,  nowhere  can  be  found,  it 
seems  likely  that  Pliny  either  was  deceived  by  lying  story- 
Itellers   or  he   understood   that  which   he  has   related  of  the 

^similarity  between  the  Onocrotalus  and   Cygnus  to  refer  to 

a  resemblance  not  of  body,  but  of  voice.  For  even  Swans 
utter  at  certain  times  booms  not  unlike  the  braying  of  an 
ass :  but  short,  and  which  cannot  be  heard  afar.  However 
if  men  of  deep  and  varied  learning  by  their  votes  shall  not 
approve  this  rendering  of  mine,  at  least  they  will  agree  with 
me  that  the  said  bird  is  Aristotle's  Ardea  Stellaris.  For 
to  omit  the  rest,  which  I  have  touched  upon  above,  that 
author  certainly  gives  countenance  to  my  opinion  when  he 
shews  a  tale  to  have  existed  that  the  Ardea  Stellaris  from 
a  slave  was  turned  into  a  bird.  For  as  the  skin  of  an 
absconding  slave,  caught  subsequent  to  flight,  stricken  with 
thongs,  whips,  rods  and  knotted  ropes,  becomes  all  mottled 
with  the  wales  of  stripes,  so  too  the  feathers  of  this  bird 
are  marked,  and  painted  as  it  were,  with  mottlings  of  black 
in  every  part,  though  chiefly  on  the  back,  and  thus  may  well 
recall  to  us  the  skin  of  slaves  cut  up  with  whips.  And  that 
this  thing  gave  rise  to  the  aforesaid  tale,  I  gather  from  the 
fact  that  Aristophanes,  author  of  various  plays,  writes  of 
the  Attagen,  a  bird  very  like  ours  so  far  as  colour  of  the 
feathers  goes,  to  this  effect : — 

"  If  any  of  you  be  a  runaway,  and  branded  with  the  marks,  with  us 
assuredly  he  shall  be  called  the  spotted  Attagen." 

OF  THE  ORTYGOMETRA  FROM  ARISTOTLE. 
The  Ortygometra,  that  is,  dam  of  the  Coturnices, 
in  form  is  much  like  marsh-birds.      Certain  birds  are 


1 2  8  Ortygometra —  Ossifraga 

longis   aues    quaedam    innituntur,   quod   earum 
uita  fit  paluflris. 

[p.  104]        Ortygometram  aliqui  eandem  ejfe  auem  cum   crece 
et   cychramo   uolunt.     Sed  Ariftoteles,  peculiare  capu 
creci  donauit,  et  octauo  libro  hiftoria  animaliuni,  cychra 
mum  a  matrice,  quam  ortygometram  uocat,  his  uerbis 
dijlinguit.     Coturnices    (inquif)  cum   haec   adeunt 
loca,  fine  ducibus  pergunt :  at  cum  hinc  abeunt 
ducibus  lingulaca,  oto,  &  matrice,  proficifcuntur, 
atque  etiam  cychramo,   a  quo   etiam  reuocatur 
noclu,    cuius    uoce    cum    fenferint  aucupes,   in- 
telligunt  parari   difceffum.     Hcec  ille. 

Fieri  igitur  non  poteft,  ut  matrix  &  cychramu: 
eadem  auis  Jit.  Aliqui  ortygometram  effe  uolunt  Ger- 
manorum  fcricam,  &  A  nglorum  daker  hennam,  quorum 
ego  fenteutia  accederem,  Ji  crecem  eandem  cum  ifta, 
euincerent. 

DE   OSSIFRAGA. 

ARISTOTELES  \ 

Offifrage  magnitude  maior  eft  quam  aquilae, 

color  ex  cinere2  albicans.     Probe3  &  fcetificat,  & 

[p.  105]  uiuit,  ccenae   gerula   &    benigna    eft.      Nutricat 

enim    bene,    &    fuos    pullos    &    aquilae.     Cum 

enim  ilia  fuos  nido  eiecerit,  hsec  recipit  eos,  ac 

educat. 

PLINIUS  4. 

Quidam  adijciunt  genus  aquile,  quam  bar- 
batam  uocat  Thufci  offifragain. 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  vm.  39. 

2  Apparently  a  misprint  for  '  cinereo.' 

3  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  123. 

4  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  iii. 


Ortygometra — Ossifraga  129 

I  perched  upon  long  legs  because  their  life  is  passed  in 
'   \marshes. 

ILJ  Some  will  have  Ortygometra  to  be  the  same  as  Crex 
/•  and  Cychramus.  But  Aristotle  has  attributed  a  peculiar 

'  sort  of  head  to  Crex,  and  in  the  eighth  book  of  his  History 
of  Animals  distinguishes  his  Cychramus  from  Matrix,  which 

j-yhe  calls  Ortygometra,  in  the  following  words  : — 

nz  Coturnices  (he  says)  when  they  come  to  these  places 
it  travel  without  guides  :  but  when  they  go  away  set  out 
chWith  the  Lingulaca,  the  Otus,  and  the  Matrix  as  their 
it  guides,  and  also  with  the  Cychramus,  by  which  they 
oiare  moreover  summoned  back  at  night.  And  when 

the  fowlers  have  heard  its  cry,  they  know  the  birds' 

departure  is  at  hand. 
Thus  he  writes. 

Therefore  it  is  impossible  that  the  Matrix  and  the  Cy- 
chramus should  be  the  same.  Others  will  have  the  Orty- 
gometra to  be  the  Scrica  of  the  Germans  and  the  Daker  Hen 
of  the  English,  and  I  should  accede  to  their  opinion,  if  they 
could  but  prove  the  Crex  to  be  the  same  as  this. 

OF  THE  OSSIFRAGA. 

ARISTOTLE 

In  size  the  Ossifrage  is  greater  than  the  Aquila,  its 
colour  whitish  grey1.  Both  in  breeding  it  is  comely 
and  in  way  of  life,  it  brings  food  home  and  is  kindly. 
For  it  rears  its  own  young  with  care,  besides  those  of 
the  Aquila.  F"or  when  the  latter  has  cast  its  progeny 
out  of  the  nest,  the  former  takes  them  to  itself,  and 
brings  them  up. 

PLINY. 

Some  there  are  who  add  that  kind  of  Aquila, 
which  the  Tuscans  call  a  bearded  Ossifrage2. 

1  See  p.  36. 

2  Possibly  Pliny  means  the  Lammergeier  (Gypaetus  barbafrts}. 

T.  Q 


1  3  o  Otus  —  Otis  —  Part 

DE  OTO. 

WTO?,    otus,   Anglice   a   horn    onl,    Germanice    ctyn 
vanfeul  /  ober  et)n  [deleter  eu(. 

ARISTOTELES  \ 

Otus    nocluae    fimilis    eft,    pinnulis    circiter 
aures  eminentibus,  prseditus,  unde  nomen  acce-j, 
pit,  quafi  auritum  dixeris.      Nonnulli  ululam  eu(t 
appellant,    alij    afionem2.      Blatero    hie    eft    &•. 
hallucinator,  &  planipes  :  faltantes  enim   imita-'' 
tur.      Capitur  intentus  in  altero  aucupes3,  altero 
circumeunte.  r 

[P.  1  06]  DE  OTIDE  EX  PLINIO  4. 

Tetraonibus  proximal  funt,  quas  Hifpania 
aues  tardas  appellat,  Graecia  otidas,  damnatas 
in  cibis.  Emiffa  enim  offibus  medulla,  odoris 
taedium  extemplo  fequitur. 


DE  PARIS. 
s,  parus,    Anglice    a    tit   monfc,    German. 


ARISTOTELES5. 

Parorum  tria  funt  genera  :  fringillago,  quae 
maior  eft,  quippe  quae  fringillam  aequet.  Alter 
monticola  cognomine  eft  :  quoniam  in  montibus 
degat,  cui  cauda  longior.  Tertius  magnitudine 
fui  exigui  corporis  difcrepat,  quanquam  caetera 
fimilis  eft.  parus'5  plura  oua  parit. 

Fringillago.          Primum  parfi,  A  ngli  iiocant  tJie  great  titmous  or  the 

great  oxei,  Germani  et)U  folmetyfe. 

Parus  me-  Parum  fecundnui,  Angli  the  lefs  titmous  nominant. 

dius.  Germanici  ct)U  meelme^fe. 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  VIII.  84.  very  freely  rendered. 

2  Aristotle    has    '  wKTiKopciKa,'    instead    of    '  ululam  '    and 
'  asionem.3 

3  A  misprint  for  '  aucupe.' 

4  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  xxii. 

5  Hist.  An.  Bk  viii.  40. 
c  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  88. 


Otits — Otis — Part  1 3 1 

OF  THE  OTUS. 

o)ro9,  otus,  in  English  a  horn  owl,  in  German  eyn  ranseul 
'or  eyn  schleier  eul. 

1  ARISTOTLE. 

The  Otus  is  like  a  Noctua,  furnished  with  little 
tufts  sticking  out  near  the  ears,  whence  it  has  got  its 
name,  as  though  one  should  say  "eared."  Some  call 
it  Ulula,  and  others  Asio.  It  is  a  babbler  and  a  mis- 
chievous rogue,  and  is  a  mimic  too,  for  when  men  dance 
it  imitates  their  ways.  It  is  caught  while  intent  upon 
one  of  two  bird-catchers,  the  other  circumventing  it. 

OF  THE  OTIS  FROM  PLINY. 

Next  to  the  Tetraones  come  those  birds,  which 
Spain  calls  "  Aves  tardas "  and  Greece  "  Otides," 
condemned  as  food  for  man.  For  when  the  marrow 
issues  from  the  bones,  disgust  at  the  smell  follows 
there  and  then. 

OF  THE  PARI. 

al<yida\o<s,  parus,  in  English  a  titmouse,  in  German  eyn 
meyse. 

ARISTOTLE. 

There  are  three  kinds  of  Pari  :  Fringillago  bigger 
than  the  rest,  for  it  is  equal  to  a  Fringilla.  The  next 
Monticola  by  name,  for  it  inhabits  mountains,  has 
a  longer  tail.  The  third  kind  differs  in  the  size  of  its 
small  body,  though  not  otherwise  unlike  the  rest. 
Parus  lays  many  eggs, 

The  first  Parus  the  English  call  the  Great  Titmouse  or 
Great  Oxeye,  the  Germans  eyn  kolmeyse. 

The  second  Parus  the  English  name  the  Less  Titmouse, 
the  Germans  eyn  meelmeyse. 

9—2 


1  3  2  Part  —  Pardalus  —  Passeres 

[p.  107]        Parum  tertiitm,  Angli  nonnam  a  fimilitudine  quam\ 
Parus  mi-      Cnm  iielata  monacha  habet,  nominant. 

Nidulantur  part  in  cauis  arboribus,  uefcuntur  noni 
folum  uermibus,fed  &  canabino  feinine,  &  micibus,quas\ 
roftris  fuis  acutioribus  folent  perforare,  &  nucleos  eruere  ;j 
Sceuo  duo  prior  a  genera  multum  delettantur.     Parus\ 
maximus  inennte  ftatim    nere  cantiunculam  quandam, 
breuem,  nee  admodum  iuctindam  exercet,  alias  mutus} 
Jiuic  pecJus  luteum  eft,  intercurfante  linea  nigra  maiuf- 
cula.     Cceterorum  corpora  albo,  nigro,  pallido,  &  cyaneo 
coloribus  diftinguuntur. 

DE   PARDALO. 

Pardalns,    Angl.    (ut  creditur}   a  pluuer,    Germa. 
e^n  puluer. 

ARISTOTELES1. 

Pardalus  etiam  auicula  qusedam  perhibetur, 
quse  magna  ex  parte  gregatim  uolat,  nee  fingu- 
lare  hanc  uideris,  colore  tota  cinereo  eft,  magni- 
tudine  proxima  mollicipiti  '2  eft  :  fed  pennis  & 
pedibus  bonis,  uocem  frequentem  nee  grauem 
emittit. 


[p.  1  08]  ^?  auis  Ufa  pardalus  fit  quam  effe  fufpicor,  celer- 
rime  ctirrit,  &  fibilum,  queni  paftores  &  aurigarum 
pueri  labijs  porrcclis  cdunt,  uoce  iinitatur.  Pennas 
habet  ad  cinereum  colorem  proxime  nergcntes,  qnarum 
Jingulce  fingulis  flauis  maculis  funt  refperfce,  &  ea 
anicnla,  quam  mollicipitc  ejfe  conijcio,  tnultb  maior  eft, 
Fieri  poteft,  ut  eius  auis  plures  fint  fpecies. 

DE   PASSERIBVS. 

crrpovOos,  paffer,  Angli.  a  fparrouu,  German,  etyn 
mitfc^e  ober  et)ii  fpiig.  Quidam  c^n  lunin^f,  Saxones  ci)U 
fperlingf  uocant. 

Pafj'er,  author  e  Ariftotele*,  puluer  at  &  lauat,  et 
auis  eft  omnium  falacifjima.  Et  quanquam  Ariftoteles 
ujium  tantum  pajferum  genus  fecerit,  tria  tame  genera 
ejfe  conftat,  qucz  nunquam  nouit,  &  quce  recentiores 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  99. 

2  Aristotle   has  fKfivois,  referring  to  the  \\»pi<ov  and  the 

u.a\(iKOKpavfvs. 

3  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  260,  Bk  v.  8. 


Pari — Pardalus — Passer es  133 

The  third  Parus  the  English  name  the  Nun  from  the 
'resemblance  that  it  bears  to  a  veiled  sister. 

The  Pari  nest  in  hollow  trees,  they  feed  not  only  on 
worms,  but  on  hempseed  and  nuts,  which  they  are  wont  to 
.bore  with  their  sharp-pointed  beaks,  and  thence  extract  the 
.kernels.  The  two  former  kinds  are  very  fond  of  suet.  The 
Greatest  Parus,  when  the  spring  arrives,  at  once  utters  a 
sort  of  little  song,  short  and  not  very  pleasing,  it  is  dumb 
at  other  times  ;  its  breast  is  yellow  with  a  somewhat  big 
black  line  running  along  the  middle.  Of  the  other  kinds 
the  bodies  are  diversified  by  white,  black,  grey,  and  blue. 

OF  THE  PARDALUS. 

Pardalus,  in  English  (as  is  believed)  a  pluver,  in  German 
eyn  pulver. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Pardalus  again  is  held  to  be  a  certain  little 
bird,  which  for  the  most  part  flies  about  in  flocks,  and 
cannot  be  seen  solitary ;  it  is  wholly  grey  in  colour, 
and  in  size  comes  nearest  to  the  Molliceps  :  but  it 
has  strong  wings  and  feet,  and  utters  a  frequent  but 
not  deep-toned  cry. 

If  that  bird  be  the  Pardalus  which  I  suspect,  it  runs  very 
swiftly,  and  by  its  cry  mimics  the  whistle  which  shepherds 
and  post-boys  make  with  pouting  lips.  It  has  the  feathers 
almost  ash-colour,  each  sprinkled  with  one  yellow  spot,  and 
is  much  bigger  than  the  little  bird  which  I  suppose  to  be 
the  Molliceps.  It  well  may  be  that  there  are  several  kinds  of 
this  bird. 

OF  THE  PASSERES. 

crTpouflo?,  passer,  in  English  a  sparrow,  in  German  eyn 
musche  or  eyn  spatz.  Some  call  it  eyn  liiningk,  the  Saxons 
eyn  sperlingk. 

The  Passer,  Aristotle  says,  both  dusts  itself  and  washes, 
and  is  of  all  birds  most  wanton.  And  though  Aristotle  has 
made  only  one  kind  of  Passeres,  yet  it  is  clear  that  there  are 
three  kinds,  which  he  never  knew ;  but  which  the  later 


34 


Passeres 


Paffer  tor- 
cjuatus. 


Paffer  mag- 
nus. 

Huic  mol- 
licipitis  apud 

[p.  109] 
Ariflotelem 
defcriptio 
magna  ex 
parte  con- 
uenit. 
Paffer  tro- 
glodites. 


Greed  inuenerunt.      Primum  korum  trium  eft  paffev 
torqiiatus,  a  communi  paffere,  no  folfi  torque  albo,  fet 
&  uoce,  &  mo  do   nidificandi  differes.     Hoc  genus  in 
G er mania  frequens  eft,  fed  apud  Anglos  rarnm.     Se 
cundus  paffer  magnus  Aucluario  dicitur,  &  in  fummL 
arborum  ramis  plerumque  folet  federe.  Jiunc  uarijs  d\ 
caufts  Anglornin    buntingam,  &   Germanorum    Gerft-\ 
hammeram    ejfe    fufpicor.       Tertius    paffer   Ariftoteli  \ 
incognitas,  eft  paffer  trogloditcs,  apud  Paulum  Aegi- 
netam,   &  Aetium  celeberrimos  medicos,  multum  cele- 
bratus.     Qualis  autem  ilia  aids  fit,  ex  Paulo  &  Aetio, 
quorum    defcriptiones   mox  fubijciam,   omnibus  facile 
patebit. 

PAULUS   A.EGINETA  DE  PASSERE 
TROGLODITE. 

His  accedit  laudatiffimum  remedium  troglo- 
dites.  eft  autem  pafferculus  omnium  auium 
minima,  ea  fola  excepta,  que  regulus  appellatur, 
hoc  enim  folo  paulo  maior  eft,  eicj?  fimilis  :  co- 
lore  inter  cineriu  &  uiride,  tenui  roftro,  in  muris 
maxime  &  in  fepibus  degens. 

AETIUS. 

Troglodites  eft  pafferculus  minimus,  iuxta 
fepes  &  muros  uiclum  quaeritans.  Eft4?  hoc 
animalculum  omnium  auicularum  minimum,  ex- 
[p.  uojcepta  ea,  quae  regulus  appellatur,  fimilis  autem 
regulo  in  multis,  praeterquam  quod  in  fronte 
auricolores  pennas  non  habet.  Eft  aute  tro- 
glodites  paffer  regulo  paulo  maior  &  nigrior, 
caudam43  femper  fubreclam,  &  albo  colore 
retro  interpunclam  habet.  Magis  item  garrulus 


Passeres  \  3  5 

eks  discovered.     First  of  these  three  is  Passer  torquatus, 

ering  from  the   common    Passer  not    alone    in    its  white 

ar,  but  also  its  note  and  mode  of  nesting.     This  kind  is 

ntiful    in    Germany,    but   rare   among  the  English.      The 

ond   Passer  is  called  in  the  Supplement1  the  Great,  and 

the  most  part  it  is  wont  to  sir  on  the  top  boughs  of  trees. 

r   several   reasons    I    consider  this   to  be  the  Bunting   of 

;  English  and  the  Gersthammer  of  Germans.     The  third 

asser,  unknown  to  Aristotle,  is  the  Passer  troglodytes,  fully 

^cognised  by  Paulus  yEgineta  and  Ae'tius,  doctors  of  great 

,nown.     And  so  what  sort  of  bird  it  is  will  easily  be  seen  by 

veryone    from    Paulus   and    Ae'tius,    and   their   descriptions 

will  forthwith  add. 

PAULUS  ./EGINETA-  OF  THE  PASSER  TROGLODYTES. 

There  is  a  remedy  most  highly  prized  besides 
these,  namely  Troglodytes  :  this  is  nothing  but  a  little 
Sparrow,  the  least  of  all  birds,  with  the  exception  only 
of  that  kind  which  is  called  Regulus.  It  is  a  little 
bigger  than  that  bird  alone,  and  similar  to  it :  in 
colour  between  grey  and  green,  and  with  a  slender 
bill.  It  lives  chiefly  in  walls  and  hedges. 

AETIUS*. 

The  Troglodytes  is  the  very  least  of  Sparrows, 
seeking  for  its  food  near  hedges  and  near  walls. 
This  little  animal  moreover  is  the  smallest  of  all  little 
birds,  except  that  which  is  called  Regulus,  while  it  is 
like  the  Regulus  in  many  ways,  save  that  it  has  not 
golden-coloured  feathers  on  the  forehead.  The  Passer 
troglodytes  is  a  little  larger  arid  blacker  than  the  Re- 
gulus ;  it  always  has  its  tail  cocked  up,  which  is  spotted 
behind  with  white.  Likewise  it  is  more  noisy  than  the 

1  It  seems  impossible  to  ascertain  what  this  Auctuarium  was. 

2  A  medical  writer  of  ^Egina,  whose  chief  work  was  De  Re  Medico, 
Libri  Septetn. 

3  A  Greek  medical  writer  of  Amida  in  Mesopotamia  who  wrote 


11 

36  Pas  seres — Pavo 


quam   regulus   eft,    &  fane   iuxta  fummum    alae 


\ 


lineamentum  cinerij  amplius  colons.  Breues 
item  facit  uolatus,  naturalem  autem  uim  omnino 
admiratione  dignam  habet. 

NiJiil  eft  in  hac  defer iptione,  quod  non  ad  amujfim 
auiculce  conueniat,  quam  Angli  pafferem  fepiarium, 
Colonienfes  aucupes  koelmufflium  nominant.  Sed  quo- 
niam  tarn  in  Ger mania  quam  in  Anglia  uarijs  nomi-\ 
nibus  appellatur,  &  non  omnes  eum  ex  uno  nomine 
agnofcunt,  omnia  eius,  qua  noui  nomina,  ut  omnibus  \ 
innotefcat,  fubijciam.  '\ 

Vocatur  apud  Anglos  an  hedge  fparrouu,  hoc  eft 
paffer  fepiarius,  &  a  dike  fnwuler,  /we  eft,  in  fepibus 
[p.  in]  delitefcens.  Vulgus  Colonicfe  hunc  paffer  em  eyn  grafs- 
imifc/i  appellat.  uern  peritiores  quiq\  aucupes  eyn  koel- 
mufc/i,  hoc  eft,  paffer  em  in  foraminibus  &  cauernis 
degentem,  nuncupant.  Hie  Germanos  monitos  uolo, 
quil  duce  fint  aues,  grafniufclii,  fua  lingua  uocatce, 
illd  fold  effe  trogloditen,  qucz  per  totum  annum  regulo 
fimilis  cernitur,  &  non  illam,  quce  circa  fauces  plumofa1 
ineunte  ftatim  hyeme  difcedit.  Nidum  huius  pafferis 
femel  humi  faclnm  inter  urticas  uidi,  &  pullos  ante- 
quarn  uolare  poffunt,  reliclo  nido,  inter  Jierbas  fruticesq-, 
reptitantes,  fcepius  obferuaui:  uermibus  pafcitur,  & 
paulb  ante  uefperum  folet  impenftus  ftrepere,  &  omnium 
fere  auium  poftrema  dormitum  petit. 

DE  PAVONE. 

Taa)v,  pauo,  Anglice  a  pecok,  Germanice  ei)n  pffauv 
Saxonice  e\)n  pageliin. 

PLINIUS2. 

Pauo  gemmantes  laudatus  expandit  colores, 

aduerfo  maxime  fole,  quia  fie  fulgentius  radiant, 

fimul   umbrae  quofdam  repercuffus  caeteris,  quae 

[p-  II2lin  opaco  clarius  micat,  conchata  quaerit  cauda, 

omnescj?    in   aceruum  contrahit   penarum,    quos 

1  This  is  probably  a  misprint  for  some  other  word. 

2  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  xx. 


Passer es — Pavo  1 3  7 

Regulus,  and  certainly  towards  the  upper  border  of  the 
wing  the  colour  is  more  nearly  grey.  And  though  it 
takes  short  flights,  its  natural  energy  is  worthy  of  all 
admiration. 

In  this  description  there  is  nothing  that  does  not  agree 
exactly  with  the  little  bird,  which  Englishmen  name  Passer 
sepiarius,  the  bird-catchers  of  Cullen  the  koelmusch.  But 
inasmuch  as  both  in  Germany  and  England  it  is  called  by 
various  names,  and  all  men  do  not  recognise  it  by  the  same, 
I  will  subjoin  those  of  its  appellations  which  I  know,  that  so 
it  may  be  known  to  all. 

By  the  English  it  is  called  a  Hedge-Sparrow,  which 
is  the  same  as  Passer  sepiarius,  and  also  a  Dike  Smouler, 
one,  that  is,  hiding  itself  in  hedges.  The  common  people 
of  Cullen  call  it  eyn  grassmusch,  but  those  who  know 
better  and  fowlers  name  it  eyn  koelmusch,  that  is,  a  Sparrow 
dwelling  within  holes  and  caverns.  Now  here  I  wish  the 
Germans  to  be  warned,  that  since  there  are  two  birds  called 
grasmusch  in  their  tongue,  the  Troglodytes  is  that  kind  alone 
which  throughout  the  year  is  noticed  to  be  like  the  Regulus 
and  not  that  which  is  feathered  round  the  jaws,  and  goes 
away  so  soon  as  winter  comes.  Of  this  Passer  I  once  met 
with  a  nest  built  on  the  ground  among  nettles  and  I  have 
often  seen  young  having  left  the  nest  before  that  they 
could  fly,  creeping  among  the  grass  and  shrubs.  It  feeds 
on  worms,  and  it  is  wont  a  little  before  evening  to  cry  out 
with  not  a  little  vehemence ;  it  goes  to  roost  almost  the  last 
of  all  the  birds. 

OF  THE  PAVO. 

Tacov,  pavo,  in  English  a  pecok,  in  German  eyn  pffaw,  in 
Saxon  eyn  pageliin. 

PLINY. 

The  Peacock  is  admired  for  setting  forth  his  jew- 
elled colours,  generally  counter  to  the  sun,  since  thus 
they  shine  the  brighter,  while  with  concave  tail  he 
gains  certain  reflexions  of  the  shade  for  other  feathers 
which  shine  brighter  in  the  dark,  and  at  the  same 


1 3  8  Pavo — Perdix 

fpeclare1  gaudet  oculos.  Idem  cauda  annuls 
uicibus  amiffa  cum  folijs  arborum,  donee  renaf- 
catur  iterum  cum  flore:  pudibundus  ac  mcerens 
quaerit  latebram.  Viuit  annis  uiginti  quinque. 
Colores  incipit  fundere  in  trimatu.  Ab  autori- 
bus  traditur  non  tantum  gloriofum  animal,  fed 
maleuolum,  ficut  anfer  uerecundum.  Pauones 
in  capitibus  fuis  ueluti  crinita  habent  arbufcula. 

DE   PERDICE. 

HepB^,  perdix,  Anglice  a  pertrige,  Gennanice  etyll 
ttelt  fyirn/  aber  et)n  rapljon. 

ARISTOTELES  2. 

Perdix  auis  eft  pulueratrix,  &  non  altiuola, 
&  eadem  non  in  nido  fed  in  condenfo  frutice 
[P.  113]  aut  fegete  prolem  fuam  munit.  Aues  enim  gra- 
uiores  nidos  fibi  non  faciunt,  ut  coturnices  &  per- 
dices,  &  reliquae  generis  eiufdem.  Quibus  enim 
uolandi  facultas  deeft,  ijs  nidus  non  prodeft : 
fed  fa6la  in  aprico3,  area,  (alibi  enim  nufquam 
pariunt)  atque  materia  ut  uepribus4  quibufdam 
congeftis,  quoad  accipitrum  &  aquilarum  iniu- 
riam  deuitare  poffmt.  Oua  edunt,  &  incubant, 
mox  ciim  excluferint,  protinus  pullos  educunt. 
propterea  quod  nequeunt  fuo  uolatu  ijs  cibum 
adminiftrare.  Refouent  pullos  fuos  fub  fe,  ipfae 
ducendo  more  gallinarum,  &  coturnices  &  per- 
dices.  Nee  eodem  loco  pariiit  &  incubat,  ne 
quis  locum  percipiat,  longioris  temporis  mora. 

1  A  misprint  for  '  spectari.' 

2  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  260,  59—61. 

3  There  is  a  reading  Xa'o>  besides  r)Xi'o>. 

4  Aristotle  has  aKavddv  nva  KOI  V\TJV,  so  no  doubt  '  ut '  is 
a  misprint  for  4et.'     Gaza  has  'ut.' 


Pavo — Perdix  1 39 

time  draws  into  a  cluster  all  the  eyes  upon  his  feathers, 
which  he  is  well  pleased  should  be  admired.  The  same 
bird,  having  lost  his  tail,  when  the  trees  shed  their 
leaves  by  annual  change,  ashamed  and  sorrowing 
seeks  a  hiding  place,  until  it  once  more  grows  to- 
gether with  the  flowers.  He  lives  for  five  and  twenty 
years,  and  in  the  third  begins  to  shew  his  colours.  He 
is  reported  by  authorities  to  be  an  animal  not  only 
proud  but  also  ill-disposed,  just  as  the  Goose  is  bashful. 
Peacocks  have  on  their  heads  as  it  were  a  bush  of  hair. 

OF  THE  PERUIX. 

rie/jStf,  perdix,  in  English  a  pertrige,  in  German  eyn  velt 
hon,  or  eyn  raphon. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Perdix  is  a  bird  that  dusts  itself,  and  flies 
not  high1  ;  moreover  it  finds  safety  for  its  young  not 
in  a  nest,  but  in  thick  shrubs  and  corn.  For  birds 
of  heavy  body  make  no  nest,  such  as  Coturnices  and 
Perdices,  and  others  of  like  sort.  For  to  those  kinds 
in  which  facility  of  flight  is  wanting,  there  is  small 
advantage  in  a  nest ;  but  in  some  sunny  place  (for 
they  breed  nowhere  else)  a  space  is  cleared  and  sticks 
and  a  few  briars  are  collected  there  sufficient  for  them 
to  avoid  attacks  of  Accipitres  and  Aquilae.  They  lay 
their  eggs  and  sit ;  so  soon  as  these  are  hatched,  they 
lead  their  young  away  forthwith  because  they  cannot 
supply  food  to  them  by  means  of  flight.  Both  Cotur- 
nices and  Perdices  cherish  their  chicks  beneath  them, 
themselves  leading  them  in  the  same  way  as  hens  lead 
theirs.  They  do  not  lay  and  incubate  in  the  same 
place  (year  after  year),  lest  any  one  should  find  it 
through  the  length  of  time  for  which  they  sit.  Should 

1  See  p.  35. 


1  40          Perdix  —  Phasianus  —  Phcenix 

Cum  ad  nidum  quis  uenando  accefferit,  pro- 
[P.  ii4]uoluit  fe  perdix  ante  pedes  uenantis,  quafi  iam 
capi  poffit1,  atque  ita  ad  fe  capiendam  hominem 
allicit,  eoufque  dum  pulli  effugiant,  turn  ipfa 
uolat,  &  reuocat  prolem.  parit  oua  non  pauci- 
ora  quam  decem. 

Eft  &  alia  auis,  qua  perdix  ruftica  dicitur,  Anglis 
rala  dicta,  cuius  his  uerfibus  Martialis*1  meminit: 
Ruftica  ftim  perdix,  quid  refert  Ji  fapor  idem  ? 
Charior  eft  perdix,  Jl  faptt  ilia  minus. 

DE   PHASIANO. 

Pliafumus,  Anglice  a  phefan,  Germanice  ei)ll  fafant/ 
ofcer  etyn  faftan. 

PLINIUS3. 

Phafiani  geminas  aures  ex  pluma  fubmit- 
tunt,  fubriguntcj?.  quae  ueluti  cornicula  appa- 
rent. 

ARISTOTELES4. 

Phafianorum   oua    punclis    diftinfta   funt  ut 
meleagridum,  puluerant  ut  gallina^  &  perdices. 
[p-  "5]  Phafiani   a  pediculis    infeftantur,    &    nifi    inter- 
dum   puluerent,  eifdem  interimuntur. 

DE   PHCENICE. 

PLINIUS5. 

Aethiopes  atque  Indi  difcolores  maxime  & 
inenarrabiles  ferunt  aues,  &  ante  omnes  nobilem 
Arable  phcenicem  :  haud  fcio  an  fabulofe,  unum 
in  toto  orbe,  nee  uifum  magnopere.  Aquilae 
narratur  magnitudine,  auri  fulgore  circa  colla, 
caetera  purpureus,  coeruleam  rofeis  caudam  pen- 


1  Aristotle  has  &>s  eV/X^Trroy  oyo-a,  which  means  'as  if  disabled.' 

2  Epigr.  Lib.  xin.  Ixxvi. 

3  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  x.  cap.  xlviii. 

4  Hist.  An.  Bk  vi.  5,  Bk  ix.  260,  Bk  v.  140. 

5  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  x.  cap.  ii. 


Perdix — Phasianus — Phoenix  1 4 1 

any  man  when  hunting  come  up  to  the  nest,  the  Perdix 
casts  herself  before  the  hunter's  feet,  as  if  she  could  be 
caught  at  once,  and  thus  attracts  the  man  to  take  her, 
till  the  chicks  escape,  whereon  she  flies  off  and  recalls 
her  brood.  She  lays  no  fewer  than  ten  eggs. 

And  there  is  yet  another  bird,  which  is  called  Perdix 
rustica :  it  is  called  "  rale  "  by  Englishmen,  and  of  it  Martial 
makes  mention  in  the  following  lines  :— 

I  am  a  country  partridge,  but  what  matters  it  so  that 
the  flavour  be  the  same  ?  The  partridge  is  the  dearer,  if  it 
tastes  less  well1. 

OF  THE  PHASIANUS. 

Phasianus,  in  English  a  phesan,  in  German  eyn  fasant  or 
eyn  fasian. 

PLINY. 

The  Phasiani  lower  and  erect  two  ears  of  feathers, 
which  look  like  small  horns. 

ARISTOTLE. 

Of  Phasiani  the  eggs  are  marked  with  spots,  like 
those  of  Meleagrides ;  they  dust  themselves,  just  as 
Gallinse  and  Perdices  do.  Phasiani  are  a  prey  to  lice, 
and  if  they  do  not  sometimes  dust  themselves,  are 
killed  by  them. 

OF  THE  PHCENIX. 

PLINY. 

The  ^Ethiopians  and  Indians  tell  of  birds  of  very 
varied  colouring  and  indescribable,  and  of  the  Phcenix 
of  Arabia,  most  noteworthy  of  all :  I  know  not  whether 
falsely,  that  there  is  but  one  in  the  whole  world,  and 
this  not  often  seen.  It  is  declared  to  be  of  the  size 
of  an  Aquila,  with  golden  sheen  around  the  neck, 
but  purple  otherwise,  varied  with  roseate  feathers  on 

1  The  text  here  given  is  probably  corrupt,  which  makes  the  rendering 
uncertain. 


1 4  2  Phoenix — Pica 

nis  diftinguentibus,  criftis  faciem  caputcj*  plu- 
meo  apice  honeftante.  Primus  atque  diligen- 
tiffimus  togatorum  de  eo  prodidit  Manilius, 
fenator  ille  maximus,  nobilis,  doftore  nullo, 
autor  eft,  neminem  extitiffe,  qui  uiderit  uefce- 
[p.  1 1 6]  tern.  Sacrum  in  Arabia  foli  effe,  uiuere  annis 
660.  fenefcetem  cafia  thuriscj?  furculis  con- 
ftruere  nidum,  replere  odoribus,  &  fuperemori. 
Ex  offibus  deinde  ac  medullis  nafci  primo  ceu 
uermiculum,  inde  fieri  pullum. 

DE  PICA. 

Kirra,  pica,  Anglice  a  py,  or  a  plot,  Germanice  etytt 
elfter/  ober  etyn  afcel. 

ARISTOTELES  '. 

Pica  uoces  plurimas  commutat,  fingulis  enim 
fere  diebus  diuerfam  emittit  uocem.  Parit  oua 
circiter  nouem  numero.  Nidum  in  arboribus 
facit  ex  pilis  &  lana,  glandes  cum  deficiunt, 
colligit,  &  in  repofitorio  abditas,  referuat. 

PLINIUS  2. 

Minor  nobilitas,  quia  non  ex  longinquo 
[P- TI7]  uenit,  fed  expreffior  loquacitas  certo  generi 
picarum  eft,  quam  pfitacis  eft.  Nee  difcunt 
tantum,  fed  diligunt  meditantesc^  intra  femet, 
cura  atq?  cogitatione,  intentionem  non  occultant. 
Conftat  emori  uiclas  difficultate  uerbi,  ac  nifi 
fubinde  eadem  audiant,  memoria  falli,  quserentes 
mirum  in  modum  hilarari,  fi  interim  audierint  id 
uerbum.  Nee  uulgaris  ijs  forma,  quamuis  non 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  81. 

2  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  xlii. 


Phoenix — Pica  \  4  3 

a  tail  of  blue,  tufts  beautifying  the  face,  a  feathery 
crown  the  head.  First  of  our  citizens  and  with  great 
care  Manilius  wrote  of  it,  that  noted  senator,  of  such 
high  birth  ;  of  his  own  knowledge  he  asserts  that  nobody 
exists  who  ever  saw  it  eat.  He  says  that  in  Arabia 
it  is  considered  sacred  to  the  sun,  and  lives  for 
six  hundred  and  sixty  years.  When  it  grows  old  it 
makes  itself  a  nest  with  cassia  and  twigs  of  frank- 
incense, this  nest  it  stores  with  scents  and  on  the 
top  it  dies.  Then  from  its  bones  and  marrow  is  pro- 
duced what  seems  a  little  worm,  but  afterwards  be- 
comes a  chick. 

OF  THE  PICA. 

Ktrra,  pica,  in  English  a  py  or  a  piot,  in  German  eyn 
elster  or  eyn  atzel. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Pica  oftentimes  changes  its  notes,  for  almost 
every  day  it  utters  different  cries.  It  lays  about  nine 
eggs.  It  makes  a  nest  in  trees,  of  hair  and  wool,  and 
when  acorns  grow  scarce,  it  gathers  them  and  keeps 
them  hidden  in  store. 

PLINY. 

Less  fame,  because  it  does  not  come  from  distant 
lands,  though  more  distinct  loquacity  characterizes  a 
certain  sort  of  Picae  than  the  Psittaci.  Not  only  do 
they  learn,  but  they  delight  to  talk,  and  meditating 
carefully  and  thoughtfully  within  themselves  hide  not 
their  earnestness.  They  are  known  to  have  died 
when  overcome  by  difficulty  in  a  word,*  and,  should 
they  not  hear  the  same  things  constantly,  to  have 
failed  in  their  memory,  and  while  recalling  them  to 
be  cheered  up  in  wondrous  wise,  if  meanwhile  they 
have  heard  that  word.  Nor1  is  their  beauty  of  an 

1  Or  perhaps,  '  their  form  is  not  commonplace,  though  not  showy  to 
the  eye.' 


1  44  Pica 

fpec~tanda,  fatis  illis  decoris  in  fpecie  fermonis 
human!  eft.  Verum  addifcere  alias  negant 
poffe,  quam  quae  ex  genere  earum  funt,  quse 
glande  uefcantur,  &  inter  eas  facilius,  quibus 
quini  funt  digiti  in  pedibus  :  ac  ne  eas  quidem 
ipfas,  nifi  primis  duobus  uite  annis.  Nuper  et 
adhuc  tamen  rara  ab  Appennino  ad  urbem 
[p.  n8]uerfus  cerni  coepere  picarum  genera,  quae  longa 
infignes  cauda  uarise  appellantur,  proprium  his 
caluefcere  omnibus  annis  cum  feratur  rapa. 

Plinius  duo  picarum  genera  facere  uidetur:  pofterius 
hoc  genus  Plinij,  picarum  genus  effe  uidetur,  quod 
pajfim  in  Germania  &  Anglia  longa  cauda  prceditum, 
oua  &  pullos  gallinarum  populatur.  A  Hud  genus  piece, 
tarn  longa  cauda  ornatum,  quam  hoc  eft,  non  noui. 
nojlra  quoque  pica  uulgaris  caluefcere  quotannis  folet. 
Alterum  autem  piece  genus  diu  fane  dubitaui  quod  nam 
effet,  &  adhuc  non  fatis  tcneo.  Cum  effem  in  Italia  ad 
ripam  Padi,  ambulantibns  miJii,  &  itineris  met  comi- 
laia  An-  tibus,  auis  qucedam  piece  fimilis,  lingua  Britannica 

glorum,          iaia,  &  Germanica  mercolphus  appellata,  confpicicndam 
mercolphus  ...  .. 

Germanoru.  fefe   commoaum   obtulit,  anus    nomen   Itahcum  quum 

a  monacho  quodam,  qui  turn  forte  aderat,  percontarer, 

picam  granatam    did   refpondit.     Qua    re   cum   apud 

Italicum    etiam    uulgus    non   folum   priftince    linguce 

Romance,  fed  &  rerum  fcientice,  non   obfcura  uejligia 

adJmc  fuperejfe  deprcehenderem,  fuborta  eft  mihi  hinc 

fufpicio,  auem  hanc  e  generibus  picarum  ejfe,  &  quod 

[p.  \\sj\fcirem  eandem,  alter  a    uulgari  pica,    multb   exprejfius 

Hanc  mea      humanas  uoces  imitari,   ita  fufpicionem   meam   auxit, 

Perottus1       ut  Parum  abfai  guin  credam  hanc  effe  alter  ius  generis 

cofirmat,        picam,  nam  &  glandibus  uefcitur  magis  omnibus  alijs 


i  Probably  Reader  in  Greek  to  Edward  VI.  (cf.  Diet.  National 
Biogr.  XLV.  p.  21). 


Pica  145 

ordinary  sort,  though  not  considerable  to  the  eye ;  for 
them  it  is  enough  honour  to  have  a  kind  of  human 
speech.  However  people  deny  that  others  are  able  to 
learn,  save  those  belonging  to  the  group  which  lives 
on  acorns — and  of  these  again  those  with  the  greatest 
ease  which  have  five  toes  upon  each  of  their  feet :  nor 
even  they  except  during  the  first  two  years  of  life. 
Of  late,  however,  and  as  yet  infrequently,  towards 
the  city  from  the  Appennines  there  have  begun  to  be 
observed  some  sorts  of  Picae  which  being  remarkable 
for  the  length  of  their  tails  have  been  called  "variae." 
They  have  this  special  mark  that  they  grow  bald  in 
every  year  when  rape  is  sown. 

Of  Picae  Pliny  seems  to  make  two  kinds :  this  latter  kind 
of  his  would  seem  to  be  that  Pie  which  here  and  there  in 
Germany  and  England  plunders  both  the  eggs  and  chicks  of 
fowls,  possessing  a  long  tail.  I  do  not  know  another  kind  of 
Pie  provided  with  a  tail  so  long  as  this.  And  furthermore 
our  common  Pie  is  wont  to  grow  bald  every  year.  Now 
what  the  second  sort  of  Pie  might  be  I  doubted  very  long, 
nor  have  I  yet  grasped  it  sufficiently.  But  when  I  was  in 
Italy  upon  the  banks  of  the  Po,  and  while  my  fellow- 
travellers  and  I  were  walking  out,  a  certain  bird  like  a 
Pie,  in  English  called  a  Jay,  in  German  mercolphus,  offered 
itself  conveniently  for  observation.  Thereupon  I  asked  a 
certain  monk,  who  then  by  chance  was  present,  its  Italian 
name,  and  he  replied  to  me  that  it  was  called  the  Seed  Pie1. 
When  therefore  I  perceived  that  with  the  common  people  of 
Italy  not  only  patent  traces  of  the  old  Roman  tongue  still 
actually  existed,  but  also  of  things  scientific,  a  suspicion 
rose  within  me  that  this  bird  was  of  the  group  of  Pies  ; 
moreover,  since  I  knew  that  the  same  imitated  human  tones 
much  more  correctly  than  the  other  Pie,  which  is  the  commoner, 
so  much  was  I  confirmed  in  my  suspicion  that  I  can  scarcely 
refuse  to  credit  that  this  Pie  was  Pliny's  second  kind,  par- 
ticularly as  it  lives  on  acorns  more  than  any  other  bird. 

1  Ghiandaja  is  the  modern  Italian  name,  derived  from  'glans'  =  an 
acorn. 


10 


146  Picus  Martins 

DE   PICO   MARTIO. 

a  rayn  Apuo/eoXavrTT;?,  picus  martius,  pipo>  iynx,  torquella, 

byrde.  turbo,  Anglice  &  Germanice  a  fpecht,  etyll 


ARISTOTELES  \ 

Alia  culicibus2  gaudent,  nee  alio  magis  quam 

uenatu   culicum  uiuut,   ut  pipo  turn  maior  turn 

minor,   utrumque   picum   martium   uocant.     Si- 

miles inter  fe   funt,   uocemcj*  fimilem  emittunt, 

Galgulum      fed  maiorem,  quae  maior  eft.     Item  KO\LOS\  cui 

mterpretatur  magnitude  quanta  turturi  fere  eft,  color  luteus, 

Gaza.  i-       •  i  •  i 

hgnipeta  hie  admodum   eft,    magnaq*  ex   parte 

more  picorum  ve^trai  eVt  TWV  f^Xw^,  quod  eft, 

id  eft,  umit    ut  interpretatur  Gaza,  ex  macerie  uiuit  :  uocem 

ad  hgna.  .     .  '  .     „    ,  .,    ,  . 

[p  120]  emittit  magnam,  incola  maxime  Peloponefi  hie 
eft. 

Obferua  tibi  Ariftoteles  dno  tantum  picorum  genera 
facit,  ibidem  ilium  galgalum  defcribere,  &  ubi  tria 
facit,  eundem  omittere, 

ARISTOTELES4    LIB.    9.    CAP.    9.    DE    HISTORIA 
ANIMALIUM. 

Alauda  gallinago,  &  coturnix  nunquam  in 
arbore  confiftunt,  fed  humi.  Contra  atq$  picus 
martius,  qui  nunquam  humi  confiftere  patitur. 
Tundit  hie  quercus,  uermium  &  culicu  caufa, 
quo  exeant  :  recipit  enim  egreffos  lingua  fua, 
quam  maiufculam,  &  latiufculam  habet.  Scadit 
per  arborem  omnibus  modis  :  nam  uel  refu- 
pinus,  more  ftellionu,  ingreditur.  Vngues  etiam 
habet  commodiores  quam  monedula5,  ad  tuti- 
[p.  121]  orem  arborum  reptationem,  his  enim  adfixis 
afcendit.  Sunt  pici  Martij  cognomine,  tria 
genera  :  unum  minus  quam  merula,  cui  rubidae 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  vm.  43—44. 

2  Gaza  translated  Aristotle's  o-Kvfy  by  culex  (  =  gnat).    Most 
probably  it  may  be  used  for  various  small  winged  creatures. 

3  There  is  another  reading,  xtXeoy. 

4  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  66—69. 

5  KoXoios  may  be  a  misreading  here  and  below  for  Kf\ebs}  but 
this  seems  doubtful. 


Picus  Martins  147 

OF  THE  Picus  MARTIUS. 
,  picus  martius,  pipo,  iynx,  torquella,  turbo, 
in  English  and  in  German  a  specht,  eyn  specht 

ARISTOTLE. 

Some  birds  delight  in  grubs,  and  as  a  rule  live  on 
no  other  prey,  as  do  the  great  and  little  Pipo,  both  of 
which  people  call  Picus  Martius.  Resembling  one 
another  they  utter  like  cries,  although  the  greater 
has  the  louder  cry.  Again  there  is  the  /coXios,  the 
size  of  which  is,  nearly  as  may  be,  that  of  the  Turtur, 
and  its  colour  yellowish.  It  pecks  wood  freely,  and, 
as  the  Pici  do,  lives  for  the  most  part  on  the  trunks, 
that  is,  lives  on  the  wood1,  as  Gaza  renders  it :  it 
utters  a  loud  cry,  and  is  especially  a  resident  in  the 
Peloponnese. 

Note  that,  when  Aristotle  only  makes  two  sorts  of  Pici, 
in  that-  passage  he  describes  the  Galgulus,  when  he  makes 
three,  he  does  not  mention  it. 

ARISTOTLE  BOOK  9,  CHAP.  9,  OF  THE  HISTORY  OF 

ANIMALS. 

Alauda,  Gallinago,  and  Coturnix  never  alight  on 
trees,  but  always  on  the  ground.  It  is  however  other- 
wise with  Picus  Martius,  which  never  can  endure 
sitting  upon  the  ground.  It  hammers  oaks  for  worms 
and  grubs,  that  they  may  shew  themselves,  and  when 
they  issue  forth  it  takes  them  on  its  tongue,  which 
it  has  somewhat  long  and  broad.  It  climbs  about 
a  tree  in  every  way,  for  it  even  walks  upside  down, 
after  the  way  of  Lizards.  It  has  claws  better 
formed  for  creeping  safely  on  the  trees  than  even  the 
Monedula,  and  climbs  with  them  stuck  in.  There 
are  three  sorts  of  birds  that  have  the  special  name  of 
Picus  Martius,  one  less  than  a  Merula,  which  has  some 

1  Cf.  p.  88. 

10 2 


148 


Picus  Martins 


aliquid  plumae  inert.  Alteru  maius  quam  me- 
rula :  tertium  non  multo  minus  quam  gallina. 
Nidulatur  in  arboribus  turn  alijs  cum  oleis. 
Pafcitur  formicis  &  coffis.  Cum  coffos  uenatur, 
tarn  uehementer  excauare,  ut  fternat  arbores 
dicitur.  lam  uero  mitefcens,  quidam  amygdalu, 
quod  rimae  inferuiffet  ligni,  ut  fixu  conftanter 
i6lum  reciperet,  tertio  iclu  pertudit,  &  nucleum 
edit.  Faucis1  quibufdam  utrinque  bini  ungues 
ut  auiculae,  quam  lyngem  uocant.  Haec  paulo 
maior  quam  fringilla  eft,  corpore  uario.  Habet 
fibi  propriam  digitorum,  qua  modo  dixi,  difpo- 
[p.  122]  fitionem,  &  linguam  ferpentibus  fimilem:  quippe 
quam  in  longitudinem,  menfura  quatuor  digi- 
torum porrigat,  rurfumcj?  contrahat  intra  ro- 
ftrum,  collum  etiam  porrigit  in  auerfum  reliquo 
quiefcente  corpore,  modo  ferpentium,  unde  tor- 
quilla  uulgo  appellata  eft :  quanquam  turbo  ab 
antiquis.  Vngues  ei  grandes,  &  fimiles,  ut 
monedulis  exeunt,  uoce  autem  ftridet. 


Picus  mi- 
nimus. 
Medius. 
Maximus. 


[P- 


Pritnum  pici  genus  Angli  fpechtam,  &  uuod- 
fpechtam,  Germani  elfterfpechtam  nominant.  Secundum 
genus  Angli  ku/wlam,  Jioc  eft,  foraminum  dolatorem, 
Germani grunfprechtd  nuncupant.  Tertiu  germs  A  nglia 
no  nouit,  Germani  atit  crafpechtam  a.  cornicinum 
picum  appellat,  quod  cornicem  phimaru  colore  &  magni- 
tudine  etiam  pene  czquet. 

Plinius  prater  h<zc  tria  A  riftotelis  genera,  quartum 
pici  genus  facere  uidetur,  nam  lib.  10.  cap.  33  fcribit, 
picum  aliquem  fufpendere  nidtim  in  furculo  primis 
in  ramis  cyathi  modo,  ut  nulla  quadrupes  pojjit  ac- 
cedere. 

Prceter  uireonem  folum^  in  Europa  nullam  alia 
tf7/£W  ita  nidulari  noui.  Quare  nullam  aliam,  quam 
hanc,  qua  pici  quartum  genus  effe  poffi.t,  inuenio. 


1  Hist.  An.  Bk  11.  46—47. 


Picus  Marlins  149 

feathers  red.  The  second  bigger  than  a  Merula,  the 
third  not  much  less  than  a  barn-door  hen.  It  breeds 
in  various  trees  and  olives  in  particular.  It  feeds  on 
ants  and  grubs,  and  when  hunting  for  grubs  is  said  to 
excavate  so  vigorously  as  to  fell  trees.  Indeed  one 
that  was  tamed  broke  at  the  third  attempt  an  almond 
which  it  had  inserted  in  a  chink  of  the  wood,  that 
being  fixed  it  might  more  surely  receive  the  stroke, 
and  ate  the  kernel  out.  In  some  few  birds  there  are 
two  claws  in  front  and  two  behind,  as  in  the  little  bird 
which  men  call  lynx.  This  kind  is  not  much  larger 
than  a  Fringilla,  and  has  the  body  mottled.  It  has 
moreover  the  peculiar  arrangement  of  the  toes,  of 
which  I  have  just  spoken,  and  a  tongue  like  that  of 
serpents,  for  it  shoots  it  out  up  to  a  distance  of  four 
fingers'  length,  and  draws  it  back  again  within  the 
beak  ;  it  twists  its  neck  moreover  backwards,  with  its 
body  still,  just  as  the  serpents  do,  whence  it  is 
commonly  called  Torquilla,  although  it  is  the  Turbo 
of  old  writers.  It  has  claws  of  great  size,  which  are  like 
those  that  grow  on  the  Monedula,  it  has  a  strident  cry. 

Of  Picus  the  first  kind  the  English  call  the  Specht  and 
Wodspecht,  which  the  Germans  name  the  elsterspecht. 
The  second  kind  Englishmen  term  Hewhole,  that  is,  hewer  of 
holes,  the  Germans  grunspecht  The  third  kind  England 
knows  not,  but  in  Germany  they  call  k  craspecht  or  the  Crow- 
Picus,  for  it  is  very  nearly  like  a  Crow  in  colour  of  the 
plumage  and  also  in  size.  Besides  these  three  sorts  of 
Aristotle  Pliny  seems  to  make  a  fourth,  for  in  Book  10 
and  chapter  33  he  tells  us  that  a  certain  Picus  hangs  its 
nest,  in  fashion  like  a  cup.  upon  a  twig  among  the  outer 
branches  of  a  tree,  so  that  no  quadruped  is  able  to  come 
nigh,  Except  the  Vireo  alone,  I  know  no  other  bird  in 
Europe  which  places  its  nest  in  such  a  way.  Wherefore 
I  find  no  other  than  the  above  which  the  fourth  kind  of  Picus 
possibly  can  be. 


150  Psitacus — Platea 

DE  P  SIT  A  CO. 
Pfitacus,  Anglice  a popiniay,  Germanice  etyn 

ARISTOTELES  1. 

Nam  &  Indica  auis,  cui  nomen  pfitacae, 
quam  loqui  aiunt 2,  tails  eft,  &  loquacior 3  quum 
biberit  uinum,  redditur. 

PLINIUS4. 

Super  omnia  humanas  uoces  reddunt  pfitaci, 
&  quidem  fermocinantes.  India  auem  hanc 
mittit.  Piitacen  uocant,  uiride  toto  corpore, 
torque  tantu  miniato  in  ceruice  diftincla.  Im- 
peratores  falutat,  &  quae  accipit  uerba,  pro- 
nunciat :  in  uino  pcipue  lafciua.  Gapiti  eius 
duritia  eadem  quae  roftro.  Haec  cu  loqui  clifcit, 
ferreo  uerberatur  radio  :  no  fentit  aliter  ictus, 
[p.  124]  Cum  deuolat,  roftro  fe  excipit,  illi  innititur,  le- 
uioremcj*  fe  ita  pedum  infirm itati  facit. 

DE  PLATEA. 

HeXe/cav,    platea,    platelea^    pelecanus,    Anglice    a 
skouelard,  Germa.  ei)U  leflet/  ob'  etyn  (offel  ga^. 

ARISTOTELES5. 

Platea  fluuiatilis,  conchas  maiufculas,  le- 
ues4*  deuorat,  quas  ubi  fua  ingluuie  coxerit, 
euomit,  ut  hiantibus  teftis  exuens,  legat  atque 

edat. 

PLINIUS  6. 

Platea  nominatur  aduolans  ad  eas,  quse  fe  in 
mari  mergunt,  &  capita  illarum  morfu  corri- 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  vin.  85. 

2  ro  \fjofjifvov  av&p(O7r6y\<t)TTOv. 

3  aKoXttororepoi/  =  reckless. 

4  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  xli. 

5  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  71. 

6  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  xl. 


Psitaciis — Platea  \  5 1 

OF   THE   PSITACUS. 
Psitacus,  in  English  a  popinjay,  in  German  eyn  papegay. 

ARISTOTLE. 

An  Indian  bird  indeed,  the  Psitace  by  name,  which 
people  say  can  speak,  is  such  a  one  as  this,  and  is 
reported  as  more  talkative  after  it  has  drunk  wine. 

PLINY. 

Beyond  all  Psitaci  repeat  men's  words,  and  even 
talk  connectedly.  India  sends  this  bird,  which  they 
call  Psitace,  with  the  whole  body  green  marked  only 
by  a  scarlet  ring  upon  the  nape.  It  will  pronounce 
"  Hail  Emperor,"  and  any  words  it  hears ;  it  is 
especially  sportive  after  wine.  The  hardness  of  the 
head  is  the  same  as  of  the  beak.  And  when  the 
bird  is  being  taught  to  speak,  it  is  beaten  with  an 
iron  rod,  else  it  feels  not  the  strokes.  When  it  flies 
down  it  receives  its  weight  upon  its  beak,  and 
supports  itself  thereon  ;  and  thus  lightens  itself  to 
remedy  the  weakness  of  its  feet. 

OF  THE  PLATEA. 

He\e/cdv,  platea,  platelea,  pelecanus,  in  English,  a  shove- 
lard,  in  German  eyn  lefler  or  eyn  loffel  ganss. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Platea,  a  river  bird,  devours  biggish  shell- 
fish, if  they  be  but  smooth,  and,  after  it  has  seethed 
them  in  its  crop,  it  casts  them  up  again,  that  stripping 
them  off  from  their  gaping  shells,  it  so  may  pick  and 
eat  them. 

PLINY. 

The  Platea,  as  it  is  called,  flies  at  those  birds  which 
dive  below  the  sea,  and  seizes  their  heads  with  a  bite 


1 5  2  Platea — Porphyrio — Regulus 

piens,  donee  capturam  extorqueat.  Eadem 
cum  fe  deuoratis  impleuit  conchis,  calore  uen- 
tris  coclas,  euomit,  atque  ita  efculenta  legit, 
teftas  excernens. 

[p.  125]  HlERONYMUS. 

Pelican!  cum  fuos  a  ferpente  filios  occifos 
inueniunt,  lugent,  fecp  &  fua  latera  percutiunt, 
&  fanguine  excuffo,  corpora  mortuorum  fie  re- 
uiuifcunt 

Conradus  Geftnerus^  cum  Tiguri  agerem,  homo  ut 
dofliffimus,  ita  candidiffinms,  huius  miJii  auis  cogni- 
tionem  (ut  fatear,  per  quern  profeci}  primus  omniii 
communicauit,  &  ideo  Germanis  leflerd  uocari  docuit, 
quod  roftru  cochleari  Jimile  haberet. 


DE    PORPHYRIONE    EX    PLINIO  \ 

Porphyrio  folus  morfu  bibit :  idem  ex  pro- 
prio  genere  omnem  cibu  aqua  fubinde  tingens, 
deinde  pede  ad  roftrum  ueluti  manu  adferes, 
laudatiffimi  in  comagene".  Roflra  ijs  &  prae- 
longa  crura  rubent. 


DE  REGVLO. 


,  /3a<7tX,eu?,  trochilus,  fenator, 
regulus,  Anglice  a  uuren,  Germanice  ei)n  funinqfgen/ 
ober  e 


[p.  126]  ARISTOTELES3. 

Trochilus  &  fruteta  incolit,  &  foramina,  capi 
difficulter  poteft,  fugax  atque  infirmis  moribus 
eft,  fed  ui6lus  probitate,  &  ingenij  folertia  prae- 
ditus.  uocatur  idem  fenator  &  rex,  quam  ob 
rem  aquilam  cum  eo  pugnare  referunt. 

1  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  x.  cap.  xlvi. 

2  It  almost  seems  as  if  'Comagene'  should  be  'Commageno,' 
which  case  we  might  translate  'They  are  highly  prized  for 


in 
ointment.7 

3  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  75. 


Platea — Porphyrio — Regulus  153 

until  it  wrenches  their  prey  from  them.  So  too  when 
it  has  filled  itself  with  shell-fish  that  it  has  devoured, 
it  casts  them  up,  seethed  by  its  belly's  heat,  and  so 
picks  out  the  eatable  parts,  sifting  off  the  shells. 

HIERONYMUS. 

Pelecani,  when  they  find  their  young  killed  by  a 
serpent,  mourn,  and  beat  themselves  upon  their  sides, 
and  with  the  blood  discharged,  they  thus  bring  back  to 
life  the  bodies  of  the  dead. 

Conrad  Gesner,  a  man  most  learned  as  he  also  was  most 
truthful,  first  imparted  to  me  while  I  was  at  Zurich  knowledge 
of  this  bird  (that  I  may  own  from  whom  I  profited),  and 
taught  me  that  it  was  called  lefler  by  Germans  because  it  has 
a  spoon-shaped  beak. 

OF    THE    PORPHYRIO    FROM    PLINY. 

The  Porphyrio  alone  drinks  with  a  bite,  it  also  is 
peculiar  in  dipping  all  its  food  from  time  to  time  in 
water,  and  then  bearing  it  to  its  beak  with  its  foot,  as 
with  a  hand.  The  best  are  found  in  Comagene. 
Their  beaks  and  very  long  legs  are  red. 


OF  THE  REGULUS. 

7rpeo-{3vs,  j3ao-i\ev<;,  trochilus,  senator,  regulus, 
in  English  a  wren,  in  German  eyn  kuningsgen  or  eyn  zaun- 
kiiningk. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Trochilus  inhabits  shrubberies  and  holes,  and 
cannot  easily  be  caught.  Now  it  is  shy  and  of  a  feeble 
habit,  but  endowed  with  great  ability  of  getting  food 
and  knowledge  of  its  craft.  The  same  is  called  both 
senator  and  king,  on  which  account  the  Aquila,  they 
say,  fights  with  it. 


1 54         Reguhis — Rubecula — R^^,ticilla 

TrocJdlus,  eft  auium  omnium  minima,  cauda  longa 
&  femper  erecta,  roftro  longiufculo,  fed  tenuiffimo, 
colore  fere  fuluo.  nidum  facit  foris  ex  mufco,  intus  ex 
plumis  aut  lana,  ant  floccis,  fed  plurimu  ex  plumis, 
Otd  ere  fit  &  in  alter o  fiw  fine  cofiftentis,  forma  nidus 
Jiabet,  in  media  iieluti  latere  Jwftiolum  eft,  per  quod 
ingreditur  &  egreditur.  In  pofticis  (zdibus  &  ftabilis 
ftramine  tecJis,  inter dii  nidu  conftruit,  fed  fczpius  in 
fyluis.  auis  eft  etiam  foliuaga,  &  gregatim  nunquam 
uolat,  imb  quoties  alium  fid  generis  ojfendit,  mox  illi 
bellum  indicit,  &  confliftatur.  Quare  aues  illce,  quce 
in  Bauaria  pennis  auricoloribus ;  qnas  in  capitibus  ceu 
coronas  aureas  ferunt,  in  fyhds  ceftate  degentes,  &  gre- 
gatim ad  urbes  kyeme  aduolantes,  reguli  non  funt  fed 
tyranni  Ariftotelis,  ut  poftea  docebo. 

[p.  127]  DE  RVBECVLA    ET 

ruticilla. 

Rubecula  E,pi6aico<$,  77  epiOea,  rubecula,  Anglice  a  robin  red- 

brefte,  Germanice  ei)it  rotbruft/  ot>ev  ei)n  votfeld;en. 

Ruticilla.  <boivLKovp6<$,  &,  ut  alter  tcxtus  habet,  fyoiviKovpyos, 

Plinio  phanicurus,  Gazce  ruticilla,  Anglice  a  rede  tale, 
Germanice  et)it  rot  ftev£. 

ARISTOTELES1. 

Rubecula  &  ruticilla  uermibus  aluntur. 
Rubecula^,  &  quae  ruticillse  appellantur,  inuicem 
tranfeunt,  efVque  rubecula  hyberni  temporis, 
ruticilla  seftiui,  nee  alio  fere  inter  fe  differunt, 
nifi  pectoris  colore  &  caude  ~. 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  256. 

2  The  three  words  '  pectoris  &  caude '  are  not  in  Aristotle. 


Regulus — Rubecula — Ruticilla  1 5  5 

The  Trochilus  is  smallest  of  all  birds,  with  a  long  tail1 
always  cocked  up,  and  a  bill  somewhat  long  but  very  slender, 
it  is  nearly  reddish-brown  in  colour.  The  nest  it  makes  is 
outwardly  of  moss  and  inwardly  of  feathers,  wool,  or  down, 
but  mainly  of  feathers.  The  nest  has  the  form  of  an  upright 
egg  standing  on  one  of  its  ends,  while  in  the  middle  of  one 
side  there  is  a  little  postern  as  it  were,  by  which  the  bird 
goes  in  and  out.  It  sometimes  builds  its  nest  at  the  back 
of  a  house  or  in  sheds  thatched  with  straw,  but  usually  in 
woods.  It  also  is  a  bird  that  roves  alone,  and  never  flies 
in  flocks ;  nay  more,  so  often  as  it  meets  another  of  its 
kind  it  forthwith  declares  war,  and  fights.  Wherefore  the 
birds  with  plumes  of  gold-colour  that  they  wear  on  their 
heads  like  golden  crowns,  which  pass  the  summer  in 
Bavaria  in  woods,  and  in  the  winter  flock  to  towns,  are 
not  the  Reguli  of  Aristotle,  as  I  presently  shall  prove,  but 
the  Tyranni. 


OF  THE  RUBECULA  AND  THE  RUTICILLA. 


,  rj  epiOea,  rubecula,  in  English  a  robin  redbreste, 
in  German  eyn  rotbrust  or  eyn  rotkelchen. 

QoiviKovpos,  and,  as  another  text  has  it,  (froiviKovpyos,  in 
Pliny  phcenicurus,  the  ruticilla  of  Gaza,  in  English  a  rede  tale, 
in  German  eyn  rotstertz. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Rubecula  and  the  Ruticilla  feed  on  worms. 
Rubeculse  and  Ruticillae,  as  the  birds  are  called,  change 
into  one  another,  and  what  in  winter  is  the  Rubecula 
in  summer  is  the  Ruticilla2,  while  they  hardly  differ 
from  each  other  save  in  colour  of  the  breast  and  tail. 

1  Turner  evidently  means  the  Wren  (  Troglodytes  parvulus],  but  with 
this  the  '  long  tail  '  does  not  agree  ;  perhaps  there  is  a  misprint. 

2  As  Sundevall  remarks,  Aristotle  probably  only  meant  that  the  Red- 
start was  called  (froiviKovpos  in  summer  and  ep'tSa<os  in  winter.    Sundevall 
ascribes  the  misinterpretation  to  Gaza,  whose  work  Turner  admittedly 
used.     This  is  the  more  likely  as  the  section  of  Aristotle  quoted  concerns 
birds  which  change  their  plumage  and  note  at  different  seasons. 


'56 


Rubecula — Ruticilla 


Rubecul^ 
nidulatio 


Omnia,  quce  hie  Ariftoteles  de  duabus  auibus  iftis 
confcripfit,  Plinius  ex  ipfo  in  opus  fuuin  tranfcripjit. 
Sed  uterque  hac  in  re,  aucupum  relatibus  magls  quam 
fua   experientia   nixus,  a   ueritatis   tramite  longijfime 
aberrauit,  nam  utraque  auis  Jimul  confpicitur,  &  ru- 
bectdce  domitce,   &   in   caueis  alitce,   eandem  perpetub 
formam    retinent.  quin  &  eodem    tempore   nidulantes, 
[p.  \2$\fed  modis   longe    diner/is  fcepiffime    in    Anglia    nidi. 
Rubecula,  qua  non  fecns  cejlate  quant   liyeme   rubru 
habet  pettus,  quam  pojfit  longijfime  ab  oppidis  et  urbibus 
in  denfiffimis   uepretis,  &  fruticetis  ad  hunc  modum 
nidulatur.      Vbi  multa  querna  reperit  folia,  ant  quernis 
fimilia,  ad  radices  ueprium,  ant  denfwrum  fruticum, 
inter  ipfa  folia  nidum  conjlruit:  &  iam  conftruclum, 
opere  neluti   topiario  folijs   contegit.      Nee  ad  nidum 
ubifa  patet  aditns,  fed  nna  tantiim  nia  ad  nidum  itur. 
ea  quoque  parte,  qua  nidum  ingreditur,  longum  Jlruit 
ex  folijs  ante  hoftium  nidi  neftibulmn,  cnius  extremam 
partem  pafttim  exics,  folijs  claudit.     Hac,  qua  mine 
fcribo,   admoduin  puer  obferuaui,  non    tauten    inficias 
iuerim,  quin  aliter  nidulari  pojjit.     Si  qui  alium  nidu- 
laiidi  modum  obferuauerint,  edant,  &  Jiuinfmodi  renuu 
Jiudiojis,  &  miki  cum  primis  no  parum  gratificabuntur. 
Ego,  quod  nidi,  alijs  candide  fum  impertitus. 

PJi&nicurus,  quern  rubicillam1  uocat,  in  excauatis 
arboribus  &  (quod  fcepe  expertus  /urn)  in  rimis  & 
fiffuris  murorum,  pojlicarum  tediu,  in  medijs  urbibus, 
fed  ubi  hominum  minor  frequentia  concurfat,  nidulatur. 
Phoenicurus  mas  nigro  eft  capite,  &  cauda  rubra,  ccetera 
foemince,  nifi  quod  fubinde  cantillat^  Jimilis.  Caudam 
\$"i2<)\femPer  motitat  uterque.  Pkceiiicura  fcemina,  &  proles 
tante  nun-  adeo  rubeculce  pullis  Jimiles  fnnt,  ut  iiix  ab  oculatijjimo 
difcerni  pojfint.  Verum  motu  caudce  dignofcuntur. 
Rubecidce  licet  caudam  moueant,  poflquam  tamen  fub- 
miferint,  Jlatim  erigunt,  nee  tremit  bis  aut  ter  more 
ruticillaru.  Ruticillce  enim  Jimul  atque  caudam  mo- 
uere  ceperint,  non  ceffant  donee  ter  aut  quater  fimul 


Phoenicuri 
nidulatio. 


Rubecula 
reflate  can- 


quam  audiui. 


1  No  doubt  a  misprint  for  Ruticilla,  cf.  pp.  154,  160. 


Rubecnla — Ruticilla  \  5  7 

All  that  Aristotle  here  has  written  of  these  two  birds 
Pliny  has  copied  from  him  into  his  own  work.  But  in  this 
matter  each  of  them,  relying  on  the  tales  of  fowlers  more  than 
on  his  own  experience,  has  wandered  greatly  from  the  path 
of  truth.  For  both  the  birds  are  seen  at  the  same  time ; 
moreover  tame  Rubeculae,  when  fed  in  cages,  constantly 
retain  the  same  appearance.  Moreover  I  have  very  often 
seen  the  birds  in  England  nesting  at  the  same  time,  though 
in  very  different  ways.  The  Rubecula,  which  has  a  ruddy 
breast  no  less  in  summer  than  in  winter,  nests  as  far  as 
possible  from  towns  and  cities  in  the  thickest  briers  and 
shrubs  after  this  fashion.  Where  it  finds  oak  leaves  in  plenty, 
or  leaves  like  the  oak,  it  builds  its  nest  among  the  leaves 
themselves  close  to  the  roots  of  briers  or  the  thicker  shrubs  : 
and  when  completed  covers  it  with  leaves  as  if  with  topiary 
work.  Nor  does  access  lie  open  to  the  nest  on  every  side, 
but  by  one  way  alone  is  entrance  gained.  And  at  that  place 
where  it  enters  the  nest  the  bird  builds  a  long  porch  of  leaves 
before  the  doorway  and,  on  going  forth  to  feed,  closes  the 
end  with  leaves.  But,  what  I  now  describe,  I  first  observed 
when  quite  a  boy,  nevertheless  I  am  not  going  to  deny  that 
it  may  build  otherwise.  If  any  have  observed  another  way 
of  nesting,  let  them  tell  it,  and  they  certainly  will  not  a  little 
gratify  the  students  of  such  things,  myself  among  the  first. 
I  have  imparted  truthfully  to  others  what  I  saw. 

The  Phcenicurus  which  he  [Gaza]  calls  the  Rubicilla  nests 
in  hollow  trees  and  (as  I  often  have  had  experience)  in  chinks 
and  cracks  of  walls  and  outhouses  in  the  midst  of  our  towns, 
though  where  the  throng  of  men  is  not  so  great.  The  male 
has  a  black  head,  a  red  tail,  but  otherwise  is  like  the 
female,  save  that  he  repeatedly  utters  a  little  song.  Either 
sex  flirts  the  tail  continually.  The  female  Phcenicurus  and 
its  brood  are  so  much  like  young  of  Rubecula  that  they 
can  scarcely  be  distinguished  by  the  sharpest  eye.  But 
by  the  motion  of  the  tail  they  may  be  recognised.  For  the 
Rubeculae,  although  they  move  the  tail,  yet,  after  they  have 
lowered  it,  at  once  raise  it  again,  nor  does  it  quiver  twice 
or  thrice  as  does  that  of  the  Ruticilla.  For  no  sooner  have 
the  Ruticillae  once  begun  to  move  the  tail  than  they  go  on 
till  they  have  lightly  moved  it  three  or  four  times  altogether 


158         Rubecula — Ruticilla — Rubetra 

leuiter  mouerint,  ut  alas,  iuniores  auiculce  cibum  a  ma- 
tribus  efflagitantes,  motitant.  Rubeculce  in  ceftate,  ubi 
in  fyluis  fatis  fuperfy;  alimenti  fuppetit,  nee  nllo  in- 
feftantur  f rigor e,  (quce  res  cogit  illas  in  Jiyenie  ad  urbes, 
oppida  &  pagos  confugere)  cum  prole  ad  defer tijjima 
quceq-,  loca  fecedunt.  Quare,  minus  mirandum  eft, 
rubeculas  in  ceftate  non  pajjim  occiirrere.  Ruticillas 
quid  miri  eft  in  hyeme  no  effe  obuias,  quum  per  totam 
hyemem  delitefcantf  Adhcec  cum  rubeculce  pulli,  in 
fine  autumni  perfec~lam  fere  in  pec~toribus  rubedinem 
natJi,  ad  pagos  &  oppida  propiiis  accedunt,  ruticillce, 
quce  antca  per  totam  ceftatem  cernebantur,  difparent,  nee 
ampliiis  in  proximum  ufque  uer  cernuntur.  Quce 
quum  ita  fe  habeant,  quid  Ariftoteli  aut  illi  hoc  re- 
ferentibus  erroris  anfam  prcebuerit,  facile  quiuis  poteft 
colligere. 

DE   RVBETRA. 

[p.  130]  B«rt9,  Latine  rubetra  dic~la,  ab  Ariftotcle  inter 
auiculas  uermiuoras  numeratur.  Porrb,  quce'nam  auis 
fit,  prorfus  diuinarc  non  poffum.  Gybcrtus  Longolius 
linariam,  fine  miliariam  cffe  rubetra  putabat,  quod 
rubis  crebrb  inftdeat.  Sed  quum  Anglormn  buntinga 
in  rubis  tarn  freques  fit,  quid  uctat  quo  minus  &  ipfa 
quoq,  batis  did  pojjit.  NiJdl  igitur  certi  habemus,  quod 
nomen  Britannicum  aut  Germanicum  fit  huic  aui  im- 
ponendum. 

Sed  quum  auium  fuprd  commemoratarum  altera 
feminibus  Jierbaru  uefcatur,  &  altera  hordeo  &  tritico, 
&  batis  Arift,  uermiuora  Jit,  delegeda  eft  auicula  quce- 
piam,  quce  folis  uermibus  pafcitur,  qualis  eft  auicula 
A  nglis  ftonchattera,  aut  mortettera  dic~la,  &  Germano- 
rum  klein  bracJiuogelclien.  Hcec  ft  batis  non  fit,  miJii 
prorfus  ignota  eft.  Porrb  ilia,  quam  Angli  linotam, 
&  Germani  flasfincam  uocant,  ueteribus,  ft  Ruellio, 
crcdimus,  erit  miliaria. 


Riibecula — Ruticilla — Rubetra  159 

just  as  young  small  birds  flutter  their  wings  soliciting  meat 
from  their  mothers.  In  summer,  when  there  is  enough  and 
more  of  food  found  in  the  woods,  and  they  are  not  troubled 
by  any  cold  (a  thing  which  forces  them  in  winter  to  resort  to 
cities,  towns,  and  villages),  Rubecula::  retire  to  the  most 
solitary  places  with  their  young.  And  so  it  is  no  marvel 
that  Rubeculae  do  not  occur  in  summer  everywhere.  And 
what  wonder  is  it  that  Ruticillse  are  not  met  with  in  winter, 
since  throughout  the  whole  of  winter  they  are  hidden  ?  And 
further,  when  the  young  Rubeculae,  having  almost  assumed 
the  full  red  on  their  breasts  at  the  end  of  autumn,  come 
nearer  to  towns  and  villages,  the  Ruticillae,  which  were 
hitherto  seen  during  the  whole  summer,  disappear  and  then 
are  no  more  noticed  till  the  following  spring.  Wherefore, 
things  being  thus,  anyone  may  easily  perceive  what  gave  a 
handle  to  Aristotle  or  to  those  who  reported  this  error  to  him. 

OF  THE  RUBETRA. 

Bart?,  in  Latin  called  Rubetra,  is  by  Aristotle  classed 
among  the  little  birds  that  feed  on  worms.  Beyond  this  I 
cannot  guess  at  all  what  sort  the  bird  may  be.  Yet  Gybertus 
Longolius1  believed  that  the  Rubetra  was  the  Linaria  or  the 
Miliaria,  because  it  often  perched  on  brambles.  But  since 
the  Bunting  of  the  English  sits  so  commonly  on  brambles, 
what  forbids  that  bird  from  also  being  called  the  Batis  ?  On 
this  account  we  have  no  certainty  as  to  what  name,  British  or 
German,  should  be  given  to  this  bird. 

But  inasmuch  as  of  the  birds  mentioned  above  the  one 
eats  seeds  of  grasses,  and  the  other  wheat  and  barley,  and  as 
Aristotle's  Batis  lives  on  worms,  some  small  bird  must  be 
chosen  which  eats  worms  and  nothing  else.  Now  such  a  little 
bird  is  that  called  by  the  English  Stonchatter  or  Mortetter 
and  the  klein  brachvogelchen  of  the  Germans.  If  this  be 
not  the  Batis,  it  is  quite  unknown  to  me.  Besides  that  which 
the  English  call  the  Linot  and  the  Germans  the  flasfinc  must 
be  the  Miliaria  of  older  works,  if  we  believe  Ruellius-. 

1  For  this  author  see  Introduction. 

2  Ruellius  wrote  De  natura  stirpinm  libri  tres  (1536)  and  edited  one 
or  more  medical  or  other  works. 


1  60  Rubicilla  —  Salus 

DE  RVBICILLA. 

Hvppov\as,  rubicilla,  Angli.  a  bulfinche,  Germa. 
etyn  bloftfmcf. 

Rubicillam  Ariftoteles  inter  eas  aues  connumerat, 
qua  uermibus  uefcuntur  :  fed  pluribus  uerbis  earn  non 
defcribit.  Ego  nominis  etymologiam  fecutus,  rubicillam 
*3i]  Anglorum  bulfincam,  &  Germanormn  blouduincam  effe 
conijcio.  Nam  omnium,  quas  unquam  uidi  auium 
mas  in  hoc  genere,  pectore  eft  longe  rubidijfimo  :  foemina 
uerb  pectore  toto  eft  cinereo,  ccetera  mari  fimilis.  Sed 
ut  facilius  omnes  intelligent  >  de  qua  aue  fcribam, 
magnitudine  pajferis  eft,  roftro  breuijjimo,  latijfimo,  et 
nigerrimo,  Lingua  latiore  multb  qua  pro  corporis  magni- 
tudine. Pars  ea  linguce,  quce  cibi  fapores  dijudicans, 
oris  coelum  tangit,  caruea  &  nuda  eft,  reliquce  partes 
cornea  pellicula  obducuntur.  Supremam  auis  partem 
plumes  cyanece  contegunt.  cauda  nigra  eft,  &  capite 
etiam  nigro,  uefcitur  libentiffime  primis  illis  gemmis 
ex  arboribus  ante  folia  &  ftores  erumpentibus,  &  femine 
canabino.  auis  eft  imprimis  docilis,  &  fiftulam  uoce 
fua  proxime  imitatur.  nidnlatur  in  fepibus,  &  oua 
quatuor  excludit,  ut  plurima  quinq\.  eundem  colorem  per 
totum  annum  feruat,  nee  locum  mutat.  Quce  quum  ita  fe 
Jiabeant,  non  poteft  hcec  atricapilla  effe,  ut  quidam  uolunt, 
utcunq;  extremo  lingua  acumine  carere  uideatur. 

DE   SALO,   QVI   GREECE 
dicitur. 


ARISTOTELES  l. 

[p.  132]  Salus  uitae  commoditate,  &  partus  numero 
commendatur,  fed  alterius  pedis  clauditate  cedit. 
Sali  &  flori  fanguine  mifceri  negant,  ta  ingens 
inter  falum  &  floru  feruet  odiu.  Salo  etiam 
preliu  cu  afmo  eft,  propterea  quod  afinus  fpi- 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  IX.  89,  22,  14. 


Rubicilla — Salus  1 6 1 

OF  THE  RUBICILLA. 

HvppovXas1,  rubicilla,  in  English  a  bulfinche,  in  German 
eyn  blodtfinck. 

Aristotle  counts  the  Rubicilla  among  those  birds  which 
feed  on  worms :  but  he  does  not  describe  it  in  more  words. 
I,  following  the  derivation  of  the  name,  conjecture  that  it  is 
the  Bulfinc  of  the  English  and  the  bloudvinc  of  the  Germans. 
For  of  all  the  birds  I  ever  saw  the  male  of  this  kind  has  by  far 
the  reddest  breast :  the  female  however  has  the  breast  wholly 
grey,  though  otherwise  like  the  male.  But,  that  all  may 
understand  more  easily  about  which  bird  I  write,  it  is  the 
size  of  a  Sparrow,  with  the  beak  particularly  short  and  broad 
and  black,  the  tongue  much  broader  than  is  in  proportion  to  its 
body.  That  part  of  the  tongue  which  discriminates  the  flavour 
of  the  food  and  meets  the  palate  of  the  mouth  is  flesh- 
coloured  and  naked,  while  the  other  parts  are  covered  with 
a  horny  pellicle.  Bluish  grey  feathers  clothe  the  upper  parts. 
The  tail  is  black  and  the  head  also  black.  It  feeds  most 
greedily  on  those  earliest  buds,  which  burst  out  on  the  trees 
before  the  leaves  and  flowers,  as  well  as  hemp-seed.  It  is  the 
readiest  bird  to  learn,  and  imitates  a  pipe  very  closely  with 
its  voice.  It  nests  in  hedges  where  it  lays  four  eggs  or  five  at 
most.  It  keeps  the  same  colour  throughout  the  year,  and 
does  not  change  its  home.  And  since  these  things  are  so,  it 
cannot  be  the  Atricapilla,  as  some  will  have  it,  though  it 
may  appear  to  lack  the  point  at  the  tip  of  the  tongue. 

OF  THE  SALUS,  WHICH  IN  GREEK  is  CALLED  aiyiOos. 
ARISTOTLE. 

The  Salus  is  well  thought  of  for  its  skill  in  gaining 
a  livelihood,  and  for  the  number  of  its  young,  although 
it  suffers  from  lameness  in  one  of  its  feet.  And  men 
deny  that  the  blood  of  the  Salus  and  the  Florus  ever 
mixes,  for  so  great  an  enmity  rages  between  the  birds. 
There  is  war  also  between  the  Salus  and  the  Ass, 

1  Sundevall  thinks  that  the  Ilvppov\as  is  the  Redbreast,  but  the  de- 
scription does  not  agree  with  his  idea,     Another  reading  is  nvppovpds. 

T.  II 


1 6  2  Sain  s — Sitta 

netis  fua  ulcera  fcabendi  caufa  atterat :  turn 
igitur  ob  earn  rem,  tu  etiam  quod  fi  uocem 
rudentis  audierit1,  oua  abigat  per  abortum,  pulli 
etiam  metu  in  terram  labantur.  Itaque  ob  earn 
iniuriam  aduolas,  ulcera  eius  roftro  excauat. 

PLINIUS2. 

Aegithus  auis  minima  cum  afmo  pugnat, 
fpinetis  enim  fe  fcabendi  caufa  atterens,  nidos 
eius  diffipat,  quod  adeo  pauet,  ut  uoce  audita 
omnino  rudentis  oua  eijciat,  &  pulli  ipfi  metu 
[p-  133]  cadant :  igitur  aduolans  ulcera  eius  roftro  ex- 
cauat. 


DE   SITTA. 

Sitta,  Anglice  a  nut  iobber,  Germanice  etyn  ttitSljaffer 
ober  etyn  nm)fpect)t. 

ARISTOTELES  3. 

Sunt  &  ei,  quse  fitta  dicitur,  mores  pugna- 
ces,  fed  animus  hilaris,  cocinnus,  compos  uitae 
facilioris.  Re  maleficam  illi  tribuunt,  quia  rerum 
callat  cognitione,  prolem  nurnerofam  facilemcj* 
progignit,  cariofa  ligna  contundens,  ex  coffis, 
quos  inde  eruit,  ui6titat.  Sitta4  aquilae  oua 
frangit,  aquila  turn  ob  earn  rem,  quum  etiam 
quod  carniuora  eft,  aduerfatur. 

A  uicula,  quam  A  ngli  nucipetam  uocant,  &  Germani 
meyfpechtum,  paro  maxima  paulb  maior  eft,  pennis 
cyaneis,  roftro  longiufculo,  &  per  arbores  eodem  modo, 
quo  picus  afcendit,  &  eafdem  uiftus  gratia  contundit  : 
nuces  roftro  etiam  perforat,  &  nucleos  commedit.  nidu- 
[p.  134]  latur  in  cauis  arbor ibus  more  pici,  uoce  ualde  acuta 
&  fonora  eft. 

1  Aristotle    has    'KOJ/    oy/c^o-T/rat,    e/c/3aXXei    ra     coa    /cat    rovs 
veoTTovs,'   as   if    the   bray   of    the    ass    shook    the    eggs    and 
young  out  of  the  nest.     Gaza  seems  to  have  had  the  reading 

CKTlKTOVai  for  €K7ri7TTOV(ri 

2  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  Ixxiv. 

3  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  91,  very  freely  rendered. 
*  Hist,  An,  Bk  ix.  17 


Salus — Sitta  1 63 

because  the  Ass  is  wont  to  rub  its  sores  against  the 
thorn-bushes  to  scratch  them,  therefore  for  this  cause, 
and  also  because  the  bird  has  heard  the  brayer's  voice 
it  prematurely  drops  its  eggs,  while  even  nestlings  fall 
down  to  the  ground  with  fear.  So  for  that  injury  (the 
bird)  attacking  it  scoops  out  its  sores. 

PLINY. 

The  ^githus,  a  very  little  bird,  wages  war  with  the 
Ass,  because  it,  rubbing  against  thorn-bushes  to  scratch 
itself,  destroys  the  nest,  and  this  the  bird  dreads  so  much 
that,  if  it  merely  hears  the  brayer's  voice,  it  drops  its 
eggs,  and  the  young  also  fall  to  the  ground  with 
fear.  Accordingly  attacking  it  the  bird  scoops  out 
its  sores. 

OF  THE  SITTA. 

Sitta,  in  English  a  nut  jobber,  in  German  eyn  nushakker 
or  eyn  meyspecht. 

ARISTOTLE. 

That  bird  which  is  called  Sitta  has  pugnacious 
habits  but  a  cheerful  disposition  ;  it  is  elegant  and  well 
adapted  to  get  food  with  ease.  Yet  men  attribute 
witchcraft  to  it,  since  it  is  cunning  in  knowledge  of 
affairs  ;  it  produces  numerous  young  with  ease ; 
hammering  on  rotten  trees,  it  lives  upon  the  grubs 
which  thence  it  digs.  The  Sitta  breaks  the  eggs  of 
the  Aquila,  on  which  account,  and  also  since  it  is 
carnivorous,  the  Aquila  is  its  enemy. 

The  small  bird  which  the  English  call  the  Nut-seeker  and 
Germans  the  meyspecht  is  somewhat  bigger  than  the  biggest 
Parus,  with  blue  plumage  and  a  longish  beak.  It  climbs 
trees  in  the  same  way  as  the  Picus,  and  hammers  the  same 
for  food ;  it  also  bores  nuts  with  its  beak,  and  eats  the 
kernels.  It  nests  in  hollow  trees,  as  does  the  Picus,  while 
its  note  is  very  sharp  and  loud. 

II 2 


1 64  Struthio — Sturnus 

DE   STRVTHIONE. 

^rpovOos,   Xt/Sf/eo?,   Jlruthio,   aut  Jlruthiocamelus ', 
Anglice  an  oiftris,  Gerinanice  etyn  ftraujl 

ARISTOTELES  \ 

Struthio,  etiam  libicus,  eodem  modo  partim 
auem,  partim  quadrupedem  refert,  quippe  qui 
non  ut  quadrupes  pennas  habeat,  ut  non  auis 
fublimis  non  uolet,  nee  pennas  ad  uolandum 
commodas  gerit,  fed  pilis  fimiles.  Ite  quafi 
quadrupes  fit,  pilos  habet  palbebre  fuperioris, 
&  gibber2  capite,  parte  colli  fuperiore  eft.  Ita^ 
cilia  habet  pilofiora,  fed  quafi  auis  fit,  infra 
pennis  integitur.  Bipes  etiam  tanquam  auis,  bif- 
fulcus  tanquam  quadrupes  eft.  No  enim  digitos 
habet,  fed  ungulam  bipartitam.  quarum  rerum 
[p.  135]  caufa  eft,  quod  magnitudine  non  auis,  fed  qua- 
drupes eft.  Magnitudinem  enim  auiu  minimam 
effe  prope  dixerim,  neceffe  eft.  Corpus  enim 
molem  fublimem  mouere,  nequaquam  facile  eft. 

DE   STVRNO. 

^ apos,  fturnus,  Anglice  a  fterlyng,  Germanice  e^n 
ftar/  ober  et)n  ftor. 

ARISTOTELES  3. 

Sturnus  niger  eft,  albis  maculis  diftin6lus, 
magnitudine  merulae. 

PLINIUS  4. 

Sturnorum  generi  proprium,  cateruatim  uo- 
lare,  &  quodam  pilse  orbe  circumagi,  omnibus 
in  medium  agmen  tendentibus. 

1  De  partibus  Animalium,  IV.  14. 

2  No  doubt  a  misprint  for  'glaber.' 

3  Hist.  An.  Bk  IX.  102,  freely  rendered. 
*  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X,  cap,  xxiv. 


Struthio — Sturnus  165 

OF  THE  STRUTHIO. 

u#d?,  \(,/3vtc6<i,  struthio  or  struthiocamelus,  in  English 
an  oistris,  in  German  eyn  strauss. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Struthio,  or  Libyan  bird,  in  like  manner  partly 
recalls  a  bird,  partly  a  quadruped,  seeing  that  it,  un- 
like a  quadruped,  has  wings,  and  yet,  unlike  a  bird, 
it  does  not  fly  aloft,  nor  has  it  feathers  fit  for  flight, 
since  they  resemble  hairs.  Likewise  as  if  it  were 
a  quadruped,  it  has  hairs  on  the  upper  eyelid,  while 
the  head  and  upper  portion  of  the  neck  are  bare.  So 
also  it  has  somewhat  hairy  eyelashes,  yet  it  is  covered 
with  feathers  beneath,  as  if  it  were  a  bird.  More- 
over it  is  biped  like  a  bird,  but  yet  it  is  cloven-footed 
like  a  quadruped.  That  is,  it  has  not  toes  but  a 
divided  hoof.  The  cause  of  these  things  is  that  in 
its  size  it  is  not  a  bird  but  a  quadruped.  For  I  would 
almost  say  that  a  bird's  size  must  be  extremely  small, 
for  it  is  by  no  means  easy  to  move  aloft  a  body  when 
the  mass  is  vast. 


OF  THE  STURNUS. 

pos,  sturnus,  in  English  a  sterlyng,  in  German  eyn  star 
or  eyn  stor. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Sturnus  is  black,  varied  with  white  spots,  and 
of  the  bigness  of  a  Merula. 

PLINY. 

It  is  peculiar  to  Starlings  in  their  kind  to  fly  in 
crowds,  and  wheel  about  as  it  were  in  a  ball,  all  tend- 
ing to  the  middle  of  the  band. 


1  66  Tinunculus  —  Tetrao 

DE   TINVNCVLO. 

Key%/3t9,  tinunculus,  Anglice  a  kiftrel,  or  a  kaftrel, 
or  a  fteingall. 

ARISTOTELES  \ 

[p.  136]  Omnes,  quibus  ungues  adunci,  parcius  ge- 
nerant,  excepto  tinunculo,  qui  plurima  in  adunco 
genere  parit.  lam  enim  quatuor  eius  reperti 
funt  pulli,  fed  plures  etiam  procreari  poffe,  aper- 
tum  eft.  Tinunculo2  uentriculus  ingluuiei  fimilis 
eft,  &  folus  in  adunco  genere  bibit.  Rubra  funt 
eius  oua  modo  minij. 

Tinunculus  colore  multb  magis  eft  fuluo  quam  re- 
liqui  accipitres,  &  corpore  paruo.  Auiculas  infequitur, 
&,  ut  quidam  miJii  retulere,  papiliones  interdum.  In 
cauis  nidulatur  arboribus,  &  in  templorum  muris,  & 
ceditioribus  turribus,  ut  apud  Germanos  Argentorati 
&  Colonice,  &  apud  Anglos  Morpeti  obfemaui.  pullos 
etiam  diu  uolantes  tantifper  alit,  dti  ipji  ex  proprio 
uenatu  uiuere  pojfiit. 

DE    TETRAONE. 

T€T/O/£,  ovpai;,  tetrao,  Anglice  a  btiftard,  or  a  biftard, 
Germanice  e^n  trap/  ober  etytt  trap 


ARISTOTELES3. 

[p-  i37]  Tetrix,  quam  Athenienfes  uragem  uocant, 
nee  terrse,  nee  arbori  fuum  nidum  committit,  fed 
frutici  4. 

PLINIUS5. 

Decet  tetraones  fuus  nitor,  abfolutac^  nigri- 
tia,  in  fupercilijs  cocci  rubor.  Alterum  eorum 
genus  uulturum  magnitudine  excedit,  quorum 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  vi.  2. 

2  Hist  An.  Bk  n.  88,  Bk  vni.  50,  Bk  vi.  6. 

3  Hist.  An.  Bk,  vi.  4. 

4  Aristotle  has  ^a/znt^Xots-  fyvTois. 
6  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  xxii. 


Tinnunculus —  Tetrao  1 6  7 

OF  THE  TINNUNCULUS. 

tinnunculus,  in  English  a  kistrel  or  a  kastrel,  or 
a  steingall. 

ARISTOTLE. 

All  birds  with  crooked  claws1  breed  somewhat 
sparingly,  save  the  Tinnunculus,  and  it  of  all  the 
crooked-claw  kind  lays  the  most  eggs.  For  of  this 
bird  four  young  have  been  already  found,  while  it  is 
evident  that  more  might  be  produced.  The  stomach 
in  Tinnunculus  is  not  unlike  a  crop,  whereas  it  is  the 
only  one  of  all  the  crooked-claw  kind  that  drinks.  Its 
eggs  are  red — like  scarlet. 

The  Tinnunculus  is  of  a  much  more  fulvous  colour  than 
are  other  Hawks,  and  small  in  body.  It  chases  little  birds, 
and,  as  some  men  have  told  me,  butterflies  at  times.  It  nests 
in  hollow  trees,  church  walls,  and  lofty  towers,  as  I  have 
seen  in  Germany  at  Strassburg  and  at  Cullen,  and  in  England 
at  Morpeth.  It  also  feeds  its  young  long  after  they  can  fly 
until  such  time  as  they  can  live  apart  by  hunting  for  them- 
selves. 

OF  THE  TETRAO. 

Terpif,  ovpat;,  tetrao,  in  English  a  bustard  or  a  bistard,  in 
German  eyn  trap  or  eyn  trap  ganss. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Tetrix,  which  Athenians  call  the  Urax,  trusts 
its  nest  not  to  the  ground,  nor  to  a  tree,  but  to  low- 
growing  plants. 

PLINY. 

Their  glossy  plumage  well  becomes  the  Tetraones, 
as  does  furthermore  their  perfect  blackness  and  the 
scarlet  redness  of  their  eyebrows.  But  one  kind 
exceeds  in  size  the  vultures  and  recalls  their  colour- 

1  For  Aristotle's  groups  of  Birds  see  p.  35. 


1 6  8  Tetrao —  Tyrannus 

et  colorem  reddit.  Nee  ulla  auis,  excepto 
ftruthiocamelo,  maius  corpore  imples  pondus, 
in  tantum  aufta,  ut  in  terra  quoqj  praehendatur. 
gignunt  eos  alpes,  &  feptentrionalis  regio.  In 
uiuarijs  faporem  perdunt.  Moriuntur  contu- 
macia  fpiritu  reuocato.  Proximse  eis  funt,  quas 
Hifpani  aues  tardas  appellat,  Graecia  otidas 
danatas  cibis.  Emiffa  enim  offibus  medulla, 
odoris  tedium  extemplo  fequitur. 

[p.  138]  DE    TYRANNO. 

Tyrannus,  Anglice  a  nyn  murder,  Germanice  eWtt 
neitn  murber/  ober  etyn  golb  fyenbltn. 

ARISTOTELES  \ 

Vefcitur  &  uermibus  tyrannus,  cui  corpus 
non  multo  amplius  qua  locuftae,  crifta  rutila 
ex  pluma  elatiufcula,  &  caetera  elegans,  cantucj? 
fuauis  haec  auicula  eft. 

Quanquam  A  riftoteles  unum  tantum  tyranni  genus 
faciat,  Colonienfes  tamen  aucupes  tria  genera  effe  con- 
tendunt.  Primum  uocant  die  groffe  neun  murder \  quod 
Angli  etiam  fchricum  nominant:  &  ego  Ariftoteles 
mollicipitem  effe  conijcio :  Jiurnum  magnitudine  cequat, 
color  eius  a  cyaneo  ad  cinereum  uergit.  Secundum 
genus  eiufdem  eft  coloris,  cuius  &  fuperius,  fed  pajferem 
magnitudine  non  excedit.  Hoc  genus  etiam  in  aues 
fceuit.  Tertium  genus,  quod  Ariftotelis  tyrannus  eft, 
auicula  eft  regulo  paulb  maior,  crifta  rutila  redimita,  & 
cceteris  generibus  (Ji  aucupibus  credere  phas*  Jit)  cede* 
&  corporis  effigie  non  dijjimilis.  Secundum  &  tertitim 
tyranni  genus  apud  A  nglos  haftenus  nunquam  uidere 
[p.  lyftcontigit,  &  primum  genus  licet  in  Anglia  fit,  paucif- 
Jimis  tamen  notum  eft:  funt  tamen,  qui  norunt,  & 
shricum  uocant. 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  vin.  41. 

2  Of  course  a  misprint  for  '  fas.' 

3  No  doubt  this  should  be  '  sede.' 


Tctrao — Tyrannus  169 

ing.  There  is  no  other  bird,  except  the  Struthio- 
camelus,  which  attains  so  great  a  weight  of  body, 
growing  to  such  a  size  that  it  may  even  be  caught 
upon  the  ground.  The  Alps  produce  them,  as  do 
northern  lands.  In  mews  they  lose  their  flavour. 
They  die  of  stubbornness  by  holding  back  their 
breath.  Very  near  them  are  those  which  Spaniards 
call  "Aves  tardse"  and  Greece  "Otides";  they  are 
condemned  as  food.  For  when  the  marrow  issues 
from  the  bones,  disgust  at  the  smell  follows  there 
and  then1. 

OF  THE  TYRANNUS. 

Tyrannus,  in  English  a  nyn  murder,  in  German  eyn  neun 
murder  or  eyn  gold  hendlin. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Tyrannus  also  lives  on  worms2.  Its  body  is 
but  little  larger  than  a  locust's  is.  This  little  bird 
moreover  has  a  somewhat  upright  crest  of  reddish 
feathers,  and  is  otherwise  pretty  ;  its  song  is  sweet. 

Though  Aristotle  makes  but  one  kind  of  Tyrannus,  yet 
the  bird-catchers  of  Cullen  state  that  there  are  three.  The  first 
they  call  die  grosse  neun  murder,  which  the  English  name 
the  Schric  for  their  part,  this  I  take  to  be  the  Molliceps  of 
Aristotle.  In  size  it  equals  the  Sturnus,  while  its  colour  verges 
from  blue  to  grey.  The  second  kind  is  of  the  same  colour 
as  the  foregoing,  but  in  size  does  not  exceed  a  Sparrow. 
Furthermore  this  kind  is  cruel  towards  other  birds.  The 
third  kind,  which  is  Aristotle's  Tyrannus,  is  a  small  bird 
which  is  little  bigger  than  the  Regulus,  adorned  with  a  red 
crest  and  not  unlike  the  other  kinds  (if  it  be  right  to  trust 
the  fowlers)  in  its  haunts  and  form  of  body.  It  has  not  ever 
happened  to  me  hitherto  in  England  to  observe  the  second  or 
the  third  kind  of  Tyrannus  and,  although  the  first  exists  in 
England,  it  is  known  to  very  few.  Yet  there  are  some  who 
know  it  and  who  call  it  Shric. 

1  See  p.  106.  2  See  p.  35. 


1 70  Trynga —  Turdus 

DE    TRYNGA. 

Tpvyyas,  trynga,  Anglice  a  uuater  hen,  or  a  mot 
hen,  Germanice  etyn  ttaffet  (Jen. 

ARISTOTELES  \ 

Lacus  &  fluuios  petunt  iunco,  cinclus,  & 
trynga2,  quae  inter  hsec  minora,  maiufcula  eft, 
turdo  enim  aequiparatur :  omnibus  his  cauda 
motitat. 

lam,  ut  fciatis,  quam  auem  tryngam  effe  putem, 
auis  tot  a  pulla  eft,  excepta  ea  candce  parte,  quce  podicem 
tegit,  ea  enim  Candida  eft,  &  turn  cernitur,  cum  caudam 
erigit.  alis  parum  ualet,  atque  ideo  breues  facit  no- 
latus.  In  ftagnis,  qn<z  nobilium  cedes  obducunt,  &  in 
pifcinis  apud  Anglos  plerunq;  degit.  Si  qnando  peri- 
clitatur,  ad  arundineta  denfwra  folet  confugere. 

DE    TVRDO. 

Kt%Xa,  turdus,  Anglice  a  thrufche,  Germanice  e^n 
frammefuogel/  ober  e^n  njac^^olteruogel. 

[p.  140]  ARISTOTELES3. 

Turdorum  tria  funt  genera,  unu  uisciuorQ, 
quod  nifi  uifco  refmac^  non  uefcitur,  &  magni- 
tudine  picae  eft.  Alterum  pilare,  quod  fonat 
acute.  &  magnitudine  merulae  eft.  Tertium 
quod  iliacum  quidam  uocat,  minimum  inter  hec, 
minus'que  maculis  diftinclum  eft.  Mutat4  & 
turdus  colore,  quippe  collo  aeftate  uarius,  hyeme 
diftin61us  fpecletur,  uoce  tame  eade  eft.  Tur- 
dus5 nidos  ex  luto,  ut  hirundines,  facit,  in  ex- 
celfis  arboribus,  ita  deinceps  continuato  opere, 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  vin.  47. 

2  Another  reading  is  rrvyapyos ;  but  this  word  is  elsewhere 
used  of  an  Eagle,  cf.  p.  30. 

3  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  96.  4  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  254. 
5  Hist.  An.  Bk  vi.  3. 


Trynga —  Turdus  1 7 1 


OF  THE  TRYNGA. 

;,  trynga,  in   English  a  water  hen  or  a  mot  hen, 
in  German  eyn  wasser  hen. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Junco  and  the  Cinclus  live  on  lakes  and 
streams,  as  does  the  Trynga,  which  among  these  little 
birds  is  somewhat  largest,  for  it  equals  in  its  size 
a  Turdus  ;  all  these  wag  their  tails. 

And  now,  that  you  may  know  what  bird  I  think  the 
Trynga  is,  it  is  an  altogether  dusky  bird,  save  that  part  of 
the  tail  which  lies  above  the  vent,  for  that  is  white  and  only 
visible  when  it  erects  its  tail.  It  is  weak  on  the  wing,  and 
therefore  takes  short  flights.  In  England  for  the  most  part 
it  haunts  moats  which  surround  the  houses  of  the  great,  and 
fishponds.  If  danger  ever  threatens  it  is  wont  to  flee  to 
the  thicker  reed-beds. 

OF  THE  TURDUS. 

Kt^Xa,  turdus,  in  English  a  thrusche,  in  German  eyn 
krammesvogel  or  eyn  wachholtervogel. 

ARISTOTLE. 

There  are  three  kinds  of  Turdi,  one  of  which  is 
called  the  Viscivorus,  since  it  feeds  on  naught  but 
mistletoe  and  gum,  and  is  of  the  size  of  a  Pica.  The 
second,  the  Pilaris,  which  has  a  sharp  note,  is  of  the 
same  size  as  a  Merula.  The  third,  which  some  call 
the  Iliacus,  is  the  least  of  them  and  less  marked  with 
spots.  The  Turdus  changes  colour  also,  since  it  may 
be  seen  mottled  upon  the  neck  in  summer,  while 
in  winter  it  is  spotted,  though  its  voice  continues 
similar.  The  Turdus  makes  its  nests  of  mud,  as  do 
Hirundines,  and  places  them  in  lofty  trees,  the  building 


172 


Turdus —  Vireo 


ut  quafi    catena    quaeda    nidorum   contexta    ui- 
deatur. 

PLINIUS1. 

Turdi    hyeme    maxime    in    Germania   cer- 
nuntur. 

[p.  141]  Primum  turdi  genus  Angli  peculiar iter  nominant 
Turdus  a  thrushe,  &  Germani  (tii/i  me  fallant  auctipes,  qui  me 
Secundus.  fic  uocare  docuerunf]  eyn  crammefuogeL  Secundum 
genus  Angli  uocant  a  throffel^  aut  a  mauis,  Germani 
Tertius.  eyn  drojfel^  aut  eyn  durjlel.  Tertiu  genus  ab  Anglis 
a  uuyngthrushe,  &  a  Germanis  eyn  uueingaerdsuoegel 
nuncupatur.  Hie  turdus  iitrinque  iitxta  oculos^  &  in 
pet~lore  &  in  ipfo  alee  flexu,  intus  &  forts  maculas 
habet  latiufculas  rubras.  Huius  nidum  nunquam 
uidi :  nee  mirum,  quum  per  ceftatem  apud  nos  nufquam 
uideatur.  primum  genus  non  niji  hyeme  in  Anglia 
cernitur^  aut  Jl  uideatur >  rarum  eft.  Secundum  genus 
per  totum  annum  apparet  maculofo  ualde  pecJore,  & 
cdtus  fui  gratia  a  multis  in  caueis  alitur.  Nidum 
intus  ex  luto  aut  lignorum  carie  liquore  mixta,  & 
artificiofe  leuigata,  foris  ex  miifco  in  ramis  arbor um 
aut  fruticum  facit. 

DE    VIREONE. 

XXft>/3tW,  uireo,  Anglice  a  uuituuol,  Germanice  et)n 
n)ttn?ol/  ober  ev)n  tveibmail/  ot»er  e^n  ferfenrtfe. 

ARISTOTELES  2. 

Vireo  docilis,  &  ad  uitae  munia  ingeniofus 
[p.  142]  notatur,  fed  male  uolat,  nee  grati  colons  eft. 
Vireo3  totus  uiridis  ex  obfcuro4  eft,  hyeme  hie 
non  uidetur,  fed  aeftiuo  folftitio  potiffimum  uenit 
in  confpeclum.  Difcedit  exortu  arcluri  fyderis, 
magnitudine  turturis  eft. 

1  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  xxiv. 

2  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  89. 

3  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  98. 

4  These  two  words  are  not  in  Aristotle. 


Tu  rdus —  Vireo  1 7  3 

being  so  continuous  as  to  seem  almost  like  a  chain  of 
nests  woven  together. 

PLINY. 
The  Turdi  are  in  winter  chiefly  seen  in  Germany. 

The  first  kind  of  Turdus  Englishmen  particularly  name 
a  Thrushe,  and  Germans  (if  the  bird-catchers,  who  taught 
me  so  to  call  it,  lead  me  not  astray)  eyn  crammesvogel. 
The  second  kind  the  English  call  a  Throssel  or  a  Mavis,  but 
the  Germans  say  eyn  drossel  or  eyn  durstel.  The  third  is 
named  a  Wyngthrushe  by  the  English  and  eyn  weingaerds- 
vogel  by  the  Germans.  This  Turdus  has  broadish  red  spots 
on  each  side  near  the  eyes,  as  well  as  on  the  breast,  and  also 
both  inside  and  outside  at  the  bend  of  the  wing.  But  I  have 
never  seen  its  nest,  nor  is  that  wonderful,  since  it  is  nowhere 
to  be  seen  with  us  throughout  the  summer.  The  first  kind  is 
not  observed  in  England  save  in  winter,  or,  if  it  be  seen,  it  is 
unusual.  The  second  kind,  with  a  much  spotted  breast 
appears  throughout  the  year,  and  by  many  is  kept  in  cages 
for  its  song.  It  builds  a  nest,  moreover,  inwardly  of  mud  or 
else  of  rotten  wood  tempered  with  moisture  and  smoothed 
skilfully,  and  outwardly  of  moss,  upon  the  boughs  of  trees  or 
shrubs. 

OF  THE  VIREO. 

XXwpiwv,  vireo,  in  English  a  witwol,  in  German  eyn  wit- 
wol  or  eyn  weidwail,  or  eyn  kersenrife. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Vireo  is  teachable,  and  is  remarkable  for  its 
capacity  for  the  duties  of  life ;  but  it  flies  badly  and  is 
not  of  a  pleasing  colour1.  The  Vireo  is  wholly  of 
a  dusky  green  ;  it  is  not  seen  in  winter  here,  but 
comes  chiefly  in  view  about  the  summer  solstice,  it 
departs  at  the  rise  of  the  star  Arcturus,  and  is  of 
the  size  of  the  Turtur. 

1  Cf.  p.  86. 


Vireo —  Upupa 


Vireonem  (quod  frio)  in  Anglia  nunquam  uidi,  fed 
in  Germania  fcepijfime.  turttire  paulb  minor  eft.  Vocent 
fiftulce  grandiufculce,  qua  infimam  cantionis  partem 
fuftinet,  Jimilem  emit  tit.  Nidum  in  ramo  qnem  in 
fumma  arbore  fufpendit ';  in  formam  rotundam  conftruit, 
ne  cni  hominum  aut  ferarfi  ad  eum  pater et  aditus. 


DE    VPVPA. 

upupa,   Anglice   a   houupe,   Germanice   etyn 
f)ou p/  ober  09  n  unbfyopff. 

ARISTOTELES  \ 

Vpupa  potiffimum  nidum  e  ftercore  hominis 
facit.  Mutat  facie  tempore  seftatis  &  hyemis, 
ficut  &  cseterarum  quoque  agreftium  plurimae. 
[p.  143]  Vpupa2  una  in  fuo  genere  non  nidificat,  fed  fti- 
pites  arborum  fubiens,  parit  fine  ullo  ftramento, 
in  cauis. 


Angloru 
lapuuinga 
non  effe 
upupam. 


Literatores  pleriq-,  onmes  Britannici,  upupam  earn 
nominant  auem,  quant  barbari  ab  alarum  ftrepitu, 
uannellnm  nuncupant,  &  ipfi  fua  lingua  lapuuingam 
uocant.  Verum  iftorum  craffus  error  facile  ajitori- 
tate  Plinij*  de  upupa  ita  fcribentis,  confutatur :  Vpupa 
(inqtiit)  obfccena  alias  paflu  auis,  crifla  uifenda 
plicatili,  cotrahens  earn,  fubrigens4?  per  longi- 
tudinem  capitis.  Hcec  ille.  Sed  Grammaticis  noftris 
hie  error  eft  facile  condonandus,  nam  nufquam  in  tota 
Britannia  upupa  (quod  ego  fcio)  reperiri  poteft,  apud 
Germanos  tamen  frequentijjima.  Ea  eft  magnitudine 
turdiy  alis  per  interualla  fufcis,  albis  &  nigris  pennis 
diftinftis,  crifta  in  capite  ab  ea  parte  roftri,  qua  capiti 
committitur,  ad  extremum  ufq-,  occiput  in  logitudinem 
porrigitur,  quam  pro  adfeflibus  fuis  aut  contrahit, 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  ix.  88. 

2  Hist.  An.  Bk  vi.  4. 

3  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  xxix. 


Vireo —  Upupa  1 7  5 

I  have  never  seen  the  Vireo  in  England,  so  far  as  I  know, 
but  very  often  when  in  Germany.  It  is  a  little  smaller  than 
the  Turtur.  It  gives  forth  a  note  like  that  of  the  large  pipe 
which  plays  the  bass  part  of  a  song.  This  bird  suspends 
its  nest  upon  a  branch  at  the  top  of  a  tree,  and  fashions  it  in 
rounded  form,  that  it  should  not  afford  access  to  any  man  or 
beast. 

OF  THE  UPUPA. 

eTroxJr,  upupa,  in  English  a  howpe,  in  German  eyn  houp  or 
eyn  widhopff. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Upupa  builds  its  nest  chiefly  of  human  dung. 
It  changes  its  appearance  in  the  summer  season  and  in 
winter,  as  very  many  other  wild  birds  do.  The  Upupa 
only  of  its  kind  builds  not  a  nest,  but  entering  the 
trunks  of  trees  lays  eggs  in  cavities,  without  any 
litter. 

Nearly  all  British  writers  name  that  bird  Upupa,  which 
from  the  noise  of  its  wings  foreigners  call  Vannellus,  though 
in  their  own  tongue  the  former  call  it  Lapwing.  Yet  their 
gross  error  may  be  easily  refuted  on  the  authority  of  Pliny, 
who  thus  writes  of  the  Upupa. 

The  Upupa  (he  says)  is  a  bird  filthy  otherwise  as 
to  its  food,  but  to  be  noticed  for  its  folding  crest, 
which  it  contracts  and  then  erects  again  along  its 
head. 

These  are  his  very  words.  And  yet  our  scholars  may  be 
well  excused  this  their  mistake,  for  nowhere  in  the  whole 
of  Britain  is  the  Upupa  to  be  found  (so  far  as  I  know), 
though  in  Germany  it  is  most  plentiful.  The  bird  is  of  the 
bigness  of  a  Thrush,  with  wings  barred  here  and  there  with 
brown,  and  marked  with  black  and  white  feathers  ;  the  crest 
extends  from  the  part  of  the  bill  which  joins  the  head  to  the 
extremity  of  the  occiput,  along  the  length,  this  it  contracts 


i  76  Upupa —  Urinatrix —  Vultur 

aut  dilatat,  tit  equus  aures  arrigit  aut  demit  tit.  tibijs 
eft  ualde  breuibus,  alts  obtujioribus,  &  lente  admodum 
uolat. 

[p.  144]  DE    VRINA  TRICE. 

Ko\vfjL/3pis,  urinatrix,  Angl.  a  douker,  Germa.  et)n 
tucker. 

ARISTOTELES1. 

Alia  degunt  quidem  in  fluido,  ui6lum(j$  inde 
petunt,  fed  aerem  no  humore  recipiunt,  &  foris 
parere  folent.  Complura  huius  generis  funt, 
partim  greffilia  ut  lutra,  latax  &  crocodilus : 
partim  uolucres  ut  mergi  &  urinatrices. 

Ariftoteles  urinatricis  unum  tantiim  genus  comme- 
morat,  ego  tamen  tria  urinatricum  genera  nidi.  Horum 
primum  totum  nigrum  eft.  &  Jl  cirrum,  que  in  capite 
gerit,  exceperis,  mergo,  quo  tamen  triplo  minor  eft: 
ccetera,  quod  ad  corporis  attinet  effigie,  non  dijjimile  eft. 
&  hoc  genus  nautce  noftrates  lounam  nominant,  alij 
doukeram.  Secnndum  genus  turdo  non  mains  eft, 
anati  colore  &  corporis  effigie  Jlmile,  et  hoc  Angli  me- 
diam  urinatricem  nuncupdt.  Tertium  genus  adeo  nuper 
ab  ouo  exchifum  refert  anferculum,  ut  nifi  roftrum 
huius  paulb  tenuius  effet,  cegre  alterum  ab  altero  dif- 
[p.  145]  cerneres.  Non  enim  pennas,  Jed  lanuginem  quan- 
dam,  ear  urn  loco  obtinet.  Degunt  h&c  plerunque  tria 
genera  in  aquis  ftagnantibus,  aut  fluuijs  non  ad- 
modum  rapidis,  in  quorum  ripis  arundines  &  carices 
nafcuntur. 

DE    VVLTVRE. 
Tvifr,  uultur,  Anglice  a  geir,  Germanice  e^n  getyr. 

ARISTOTELES  2. 

Vultur    nidificat     in    excelfiffimis    rupibus : 
unde    fit    ut    raro    nidus    &    pulli    cernantur. 

1  Hist.  An.  Bk  I.  6,  somewhat  freely  rendered, 

2  Hist.  An.  Bk  vi.  35, 


Upupa —  Urinatrix —  Vultur  1 7  7 

or  spreads  again  according  as  it  is  disposed,  as  a  horse  pricks 
or  droops  its  ears.  It  has  very  short  legs  and  rounded  wings, 
while  it  flies  somewhat  slowly. 


OF  THE  URINATRIX. 

Ko\v/j,{3i$,  urinatrix,  in  English  a  douker,  in  German  eyn 
ducher. 

ARISTOTLE. 

But  other  animals  in  truth  live  in  the  water  and 
thence  seek  their  food,  yet  they  breathe  air  and  not 
moisture,  and  they  are  wont  to  breed  out  of  the  water. 
Now  there  are  many  of  this  sort,  in  part  going  afoot, 
as  are  the  Lutra,  Latax,  and  Crocodilus ;  and  in  part 
winged,  as  the  Mergi  and  the  Urinatrices. 

Aristotle  makes  mention  only  of  one  kind  of  Urinatrix, 
but  I  have  observed  three  kinds  of  Urinatrices.  Of  these  the 
first  is  wholly  black,  and,  except  for  the  tuft  it  bears  upon  its 
head,  is  not  unlike  the  Mergus  otherwise,  so  far  as  the 
outline  of  its  body  goes,  though  it  is  one-third  less  in  size. 
This  is  the  sort  our  sailors  call  the  Loun,  but  others  the  Douker. 
The  second  kind,  no  bigger  than  a  Thrush,  is  like  a  Duck  in 
colour  and  in  form  of  body;  this  the  English  call  the  middle 
Urinatrix.  The  third  kind,  when  it  is  but  newly  hatched, 
recalls  a  Gosling,  so  that  if  its  beak  were  not  a  little  more 
slender  you  could  scarce  discern  the  one  bird  from  the  other. 
For  it  has  no  quills,  but  in  place  of  these  a  sort  of  down. 
These  three  kinds  for  the  most  part  live  on  stagnant  waters 
or  not  very  rapid  rivers,  on  the  banks  of  which  grow  reeds 
and  sedges. 

OF  THE  VULTUR. 
Tv-^r,  vultur,  in  English  a  geir,  in  German  eyn  geyr. 

ARISTOTLE. 

The  Vulture  nests  in  very  lofty  rocks,  and  thus  it 
chances  that  the  nest  and  young  are  rarely  to  be  seen. 

T.  12 


1 78  Vitltiir 

quocirca  Herodotus  Brifonis  rhetoris  pater,  uul- 
tures  ex  diuerfo  orbe  nobis  incognito  aduolare 
putauit,  argumeto  quod  nidum  nemo  uidiffet 
uulturis,  &  quod  multi  exercitum  fequetes, 
repente  appareant.  Sed  quanquam  difficile 
nidum  eius  alitis  uideris  :  tamen  uifus  aliquan- 
[p.  146]  do  eft.  Pariunt  uultures  oua  bina.  Caetera, 
quae  carne  uefcuntur,  non  plus  quam  femel  anno 
parere  exploratum  eft. 

PLINIUS  \ 

Vulturum  praeualent  nigri,  nidos  nemo  atti- 
git,  ideo  etiam  fuere,  qui  putarent  ex  aduerfo 
orbe  aduolare  falfo.  Nidificant  enim  in  excel  - 
fiffimis  rupibus.  Foetus  quidem  faepe  cernuntur 
fere  bini.  Vmbricius  aurufpicu  noftro  aeuo 
peritiffimus,  parere  tradit  tria,  uno  ex  his  reli- 
qua  oua  niducj*  luftrare,  moxcj?  abijcere.  Tri- 
duo  aut  ante  aut  biduo  uolare  eos,  ubi  cadauera 
futura  funt. 

Perperd  Grammatici  quidam  uulture,  gryphem  no- 
minant,  itulturem  &  gryphem  inepte  confundentes.  qimm 
gryps  fit  a  grypJien,  animal  ut  creditor  iiolatile  & 
qnadnipes. 

1  Hist.  Nat.  Lib.  X.  cap.  vi. 


Vultur  179 

Wherefore  Herodotus,  the  father  of  the  rhetorician 
Briso,  thought  that  Vultures  winged  it  from  some 
other  world  unknown  to  us,  his  argument  being  that 
nobody  had  ever  seen  a  Vulture's  nest,  although  a  multi- 
tude at  once  come  into  sight  when  following  an  army. 
And  yet,  however  difficult  it  be  to  see  the  nest  of  this 
bird,  still  it  has  been  seen  at  certain  times.  Vultures 
lay  two  eggs  each.  Besides  it  is  a  well-known  fact  that 
animals  which  feed  on  flesh  do  not  breed  more  than 
once  a  year. 

PLINY. 

Of  Vultures  the  black  are  most  plentiful.  No  one 
has  ever  reached  their  nests  and  therefore  there  have 
been  some  who  erroneously  thought  that  they  flew 
hither  from  another  world.  They  really  nest  in  very 
lofty  rocks.  Indeed  the  offspring,  generally  twins, 
are  often  seen.  Umbricius,  the  most  skilful  augur 
of  our  age,  asserts  that  they  lay  three  eggs,  with 
one  of  which  they  cleanse  the  others  and  purify  the 
nest,  and  afterwards  throw  it  away.  And  that  they 
fly  three  or  two  days  beforehand  to  a  place  where 
carcases  are  likely  to  be  found. 

Quite  wrongly  certain  scholars  call  the  Vulture  Gryps, 
confounding  foolishly  the  Vulture  and  the  Gryps,  since  the 
Gryps  is  a  Gryphon,  or  an  animal  believed  to  be  both  winged 
and  quadruped. 


12 — 2 


[p.  i47]         AVIVM    LOCI    COMMVNES 

ex   Ariftotele. 

CY  Plinium,  Ariftotele,  Arijlophane  aut  quemctiq; 
alinm  idoneum  fcriptorem  te  legere  contingat, 
locos  huiufmodi  comunes,  quales  exempli  tantil  gratia 
fubijciam,  in  procinc~tu,  libro  infcriptos  chartaceo  ha- 
bere  expedit,  nt  ad  eos  aues  omnes,  de  quibus  apud  iftos 
legis,  certo  refer  as,  quod  fi  feceris,  no  dubito  quin  in 
auiu  cognitione  multii-m  breui  Jis  profeElurus. 

Appendices  habentes. 

Olor,  anfer,  anas,  gallinaceus,  perdix,  ciconia,  afca- 
laphus,  tarda,  noctua,  paffer. 

Ingluuies  habentes. 
Gallinaceus,  palumbes,  perdix  &  columbus. 

Gulas  tot  as  amp  las  kabentes. 
Anfer,  anas,  gania,  cataracJa,  &  tarda. 

Gregales  aues. 
Olor,  anfer  minor,  grits,  &  platea. 

Frugibus  uiclitantes. 
Pahimbes,  columbus,  turtiir,  &  uinago. 

[p.  148]  Lacus  frequentantes. 

Ardeola,  albardeola,  ciconia,  gauia  cineria,   iunco, 
cinclus,  trynga,  calidris,  &  alcedones. 

Mare  frequentantes. 

A  Ice  do,  cam  his,  gauia  alba,  fulica,  mergus,  rupex 
&  caiaracla. 


COMMON    PLACES,    REFERRING   TO   BIRDS, 
FROM   ARISTOTLE. 

IF  it  should  happen  that  you  read  Pliny,  Aristotle,  Aristo- 
phanes, or  any  other  suitable  writer,  it  is  fitting  to  have 
ready  for  use  such  Common  Places  of  this  kind  as  I  will  add 
for  the  sake  of  example  only,  written  in  a  note-book,  that 
you  may  with  certainty  refer  to  all  those  birds,  of  which  you 
read  in  their  pages.  And  if  you  do  this,  I  doubt  not  that  in 
a  short  time  you  will  make  great  progress  in  the  knowledge 
of  birds. 

Those  having  appendices^. 

Olor,  anser,  anas,  gallinaceus,  perdix,  ciconia,  ascalaphus, 
tarda,  noctua,  passer. 

Those  having  craws. 
Gallinaceus,  palumbes,  perdix,  and  columbus. 

Those  having  wide  gullets. 
Anser,  anas,   gavia,  cataracta,  and  tarda. 

Gregarious  birds. 
Olor,  the  smaller  anser,  grus,  and  platea. 

Those  living  on  crops. 
Palumbes,  columbus,  turtur,  and  vinago. 

Those  frequenting  lakes. 

Ardeola,  albardeola,  ciconia,  the  grey  gavia,  junco,  cinclus, 
trynga,  calidris,  and  alcedones. 

Those  frequenting  the  sea. 

Alcedo,  carulus2,  the  white  gavia,  fulica,  mergus,  rupex3, 
and  cataracta. 

1  That  is  cceca  or  blind-guts. 

2  Kvavos.  3  Perhaps 


1 82  Loci  communes 

Annies  &  lacus  frequentantes. 
Olor,  anas,  phalaris^  urinatrix,  bofca,  coruus  pal- 
mipes,  uterque  anfer,  uulpanfer,  capella,  penelops,  aquila 
marina. 

Spinas  appetentes. 
Spinus,  carduelis,  &  auriuittis. 

Culicibns  niElitantes. 
Pici  Martij,  galgulus,  culicilega. 

Vermibus  aut  ex  toto  aut  magna  ex  parte 

uifclitantes. 

Fringilla,  paffer,  rubetra,  luteola,  &  part  onines, 
ficedula,  atricapilla,  rubicilla,  rubecula,  fyltiia,  arnica, 
afylus,  florus,  montifringilla,  regulus  &  frugilega. 

Plures  locos  cuique  licebit  huius  modi 
excogitare. 


Common  places  183 

Those  frequenting'  rivers  and  lakes. 

Olor,  anas,  phalaris,  urinatrix,  bosca,  the  web-footed 
corvus,  either  kind  of  anser,  vulpanser,  capella,  penelops, 
the  sea  aquila. 

Those  feeding  on  thistles. 
Spinus,  carduelis,   and  aurivittis. 

Those  feeding  on  insects. 
Pici  martii,  galgulus,  culicilega. 

Those  feeding"  on  worms^   either  wJiolly,  or  for  the 
most  part. 

Fringilla,  passer,  rubetra,  luteola,  and  all  the  pari,  ficedula, 
atricapilla,  rubicilla,  rubecula,  sylvia,  curuca,  asylus,  florus, 
montifringilla,  regulus,  and  frugilega. 

Any  one  may  devise  more  Places  of  this  sort. 


[p.  ,49]     PERORATIO   AD   LECTOREM. 


N 


ON  deerunt  forfan,  qui  mihi  hoc  uicio 
uerfuri  funt,  quod  libellus  ifte  meus 
coniefturarum  multo  plus  quam  certarum  ad- 
fertionum  in  fe  contineat :  quibus  refpondeo,  in 
re  ardua,  &  nondum  fatis  explorata  mihi  con- 
fultius  &  modeftius  uideri,  hefitanter  &  modefte 
conieclando  ueftigare,  &  ita  inquirere,  quam 
temere  &  impudenter  de  rebus  incompertis  pro- 
nunciare.  Quod  autem  de  moribus  &  medicinis 
auium  nihil  hie  fcripferim,  in  caufa  fuerunt, 
temporis  anni  infcelicitas,  &  anguftia  (breuiori 
enim  fpacio  quam  duobus  meniibus  totus  liber 
[p.  150]  confcriptus  eft)  &  pecuniae  copia  minor,  quam 
qua?  huiufmodi  negocio  abfoluendo  fufficeret. 
Nam  quis  fine  magna  pecuniae  ui  in  longinquas 
regiones  proficifci  poteft,  peregrinarum  auium 
formas  &  mores  contemplaturus,  &  illic  diu  ea 
de  caufa  manfurus  ?  Quis  familia  aut  uoca- 
tione  fua,  aut  alijs  negocijs  foras  prodire  pro- 
hibitus,  fine  maximis  impenfis  omnia  auium 
genera  ab  aucupibus  ad  fe  ex  uarijs  mudi  plagis 
allata,  curare  poterit  ?  et  ia  allata,  quo  mores 
ad  plenum  perueftiget,  in  uiuarijs  &  caueis  fine 
maximis  fumptibus  alere  quis  sufficiet  ?  Hoc 


PERORATION   TO   THE   READER. 

'  I  ^HERE  perhaps  will  not  be  wanting  those  who 
J_  will  attribute  this  to  me  as  a  fault,  that  this  little 
book  of  mine  contains  within  it  many  more  conjectures 
than  sure  statements  :  to  whom  I  reply,  that  it  seemed 
to  me  much  more  prudent  and  becoming  on  a  subject 
that  is  difficult  and  not  yet  sufficiently  explored  to 
tread  doubtingly  and  modestly  by  conjecture,  and  so  to 
enquire,  than  to  pronounce  rashly  and  immodestly  on 
things  undetermined.  Moreover  that  I  have  written 
nothing  here  of  the  habits  and  medicinal  nature  of 
birds,  I  have  for  reasons  the  unsuitability  of  the  time 
of  year  and  its  brief  span  (for  the  whole  book  was 
written  in  a  space  of  less  than  two  months)  and  a 
supply  of  money  too  slender  to  suffice  for  the  per- 
fection of  a  work  of  that  kind.  For  who  without  great 
command  of  money  can  set  off  for  distant  regions, 
to  observe  the  forms  and  habits  of  foreign  birds,  and 
there  to  stay  a  long  time  for  that  purpose  ?  Who, 
hindered  by  his  household  or  his  calling  or  other 
business  from  going  abroad  could  without  vast  expense 
give  heed  to  all  the  kinds  of  birds  brought  to  him 
by  fowlers  from  the  various  quarters  of  the  world  ? 
and  when  brought,  who  would  be  capable  without 
vast  expense  of  keeping  them  in  vivaria  and  cages, 
that  he  might  investigate  their  habits  to  the  full  ? 


1 86  Peroratio 

Alexander  ille  omnium  ethnicorum  regum  po- 
tentia,  bellica  gloria,  &  literarum  ftudio  maxi- 
mus  &  nobiliffimus  fecu  animo  perpendens, 

[p.  151]  Ariftotelem  iam  de  animalibus  fcripturu,  quern 
priuatis  fumptibus  negocium  illud  abfoluere  non 
•  potuiffe  cognouerat,  ad  conducendos  aucupes, 
&  uenatores,  &  ad  alenda  in  uiuarijs  animalia  iam 
capta,  480  milibus  coronatorum  donauit,  &  ita 
inftruxit.  Talis  fi  hodie  alicubi  Alexander  ex- 
ifteret,  non  dubitarem  quin  nouus  nobis  Arifto- 
teles  alicunde  renafceretur,  qui  prioris  illius 
Ariftotelis  animalia  omnia,  paucis  exceptis,  no 
folum  nobis  cum  moribus  medicis  fuis  facultati- 
bus,  &  huius  teporis  nominibus  exhiberet,  fed 
&  multa  plura  animalia  qua  prior,  &  humano 
generi  non  minus  utilia  nos  doceret.  Quod 
igitur  Ariftoteles  de  tarn  multis  animantibus 

[p.  152]  ta  foeliciter  fcripferit,  Alexadri  potius  liberali- 
tati  quam  Ariflotel.  diligentie  tribuendum  erat : 
quamuis  et  ea  fummopere  laudada  erat.  Nam 
fi  Alexandri  munificentia  Arifhoteli  animalia  ilia 
fpeclanda  no  exhibuiffet,  hiftoriarn  animalium 
nobis  tarn  abfolutam  nunquam  aedidiffet.  Mirari 
igitur  defmant  fcriptorum  huius  temporis  ociofi 
cefores,  frigidius,  indoftius,  &  minori  cum  dili- 
getia  ftirpium,  auium,  pifcium  &  quadrupedum 
hiftorias  hac  aetate  cofcribi,  quam  apud  feculum 
prius  traclabantur.  Quum  hodie  quicquid  pre- 
clari  in  lucem  emittitur,  priuatis  tenuioris  fortu- 
nae  iludioforu  uirorum  fumptibus  &  typographo- 
rum  impenfis  edatur.  Sed  ad  te  iam  redeo, 
candidiffime  lector,  quern  etiam  atq*  etiam  ob- 

[p-  !53]  teftor,  ut  fi  qua  tibi  fefe  peregrina  facie  offerat 


Peroration  187 

The  well-known  Alexander,  the  greatest  and  most 
renowned  of  all  kings  of  the  nations  in  power,  war- 
like glory,  and  zeal  for  learning,  weighing  this  in  his 
mind,  presented  Aristotle  with  480,000  crowns,  when 
he  was  about  to  write  on  animals,  since  he  knew  that 
the  philosopher  could  not  carry  out  that  task  with 
his  private  means,  for  the  purpose  of  hiring  fowlers 
and  huaters,  and  for  keeping  in  vivaria  the  animals 
which  had  been  already  caught,  and  provided  to  that* 
end.  If  such  an  Alexander  existed  anywhere  to-day, 
I  should  not  doubt  that  a  new  Aristotle  would  be  born 
again  for  us  from  somewhere,  who  not  only  would 
display  to  us  all  the  animals,  with  few  exceptions,  of 
that  former  Aristotle,  with  their  habits,  their  medicinal 
properties,  and  their  latter-day  names,  but  would  in- 
form us  of  many  more  animals  than  the  former,  and 
those  not  less  useful  to  the  human  race.  That  Aristotle 
therefore  wrote  so  happily  about  so  many  living 
creatures  is  to  be  put  down  rather  to  the  liberality 
of  Alexander  than  to  the  diligence  of  Aristotle  : 
though  that  too  must  be  praised  without  stint.  For  if 
the  bounty  of  Alexander  had  not  supplied  to  Aristotle 
those  animals  to  be  examined,  he  never  would  have 
published  so  complete  a  History  of  Animals  for  us. 
Therefore  let  the  ease-loving  critics  of  the  present 
day  cease  to  wonder  that  the  histories  of  plants, 
birds,  fishes,  and  quadrupeds  are  written  in  this  age 
with  less  spirit,  less  learning,  and  less  diligence  than 
that  with  which  they  were  treated  in  a  former  age. 
To-day  whatever  of  value  is  brought  to  light  is 
published  at  the  private  expense  of  very  zealous  men 
of  slender  fortunes  and  printers.  But  now  I  return 
to  you,  most  ingenuous  reader,  and  beseech  you  once 
and  again  that,  if  any  bird  of  foreign  aspect  meet 


1 88  Peroratio 

auis,  paucis  mihi  illam,  addito  nomine  gentis  tuae, 

depingere   non  dedigneris,   &  mihi  &  omnium 

bonaru  literarum   ftudiofis   fcies   te  magnopere 

gratificaturum,  nam   nee  facti  in  fecunda  huius 

libri  editione  ero  immemor,  nee  quicqua,  quod  ad 

hoc  difciplinae  genus  pertinet, 

mihi  exploratum,   te  celabo. 

Vale.     Coloniae  Calend. 

Martijs. 


Peroration  1 89 

your  eye,  you  will  not  disdain  to  depict  it  for  me  in 
a  few  words,  with  the  addition  of  the  name  of  your 
family,  and  you  will  know  that  you  will  greatly  gratify 
both  me  and  those  who  are  zealous  of  all  good 
learning,  for  I  shall  be  neither  unmindful  of  the  act 
in  a  second  edition  of  this  book,  nor  conceal  from 
you  anything,  which  pertains  to  this  kind  of  teaching, 
and  is  found  out  by  me. 

Farewell.     At  Cullen.     Ist  March. 


[p.  154]  AABEPTO2   'O    TEAPTETS 

TO)    rijs    fflpXov    o-Trovbaiw    dvayvcDcrrr) 


ei 

TOVTO  TTOirj/jia  /3pa%v  rd^    dvdyvaycrov  aye. 
OfSet9   ear*  dtcpiffcos  irepl  TOVTCOV  ypd^jrev  larpwis, 
Pierre  /3Xe7ret9  rfj  $  ev  Trdvra  ypatyevra  /3i/3\q>. 
Tov  ovv  (rTrovSalov  Tovpvrjpov  rbv  TTOVOV  OVTOV 
:    TOVTOV  KOI  ttTroXave 

vAXXo. 


vayvcoar 
BouXei?  Tovpvtfpov  rrjv  J3i(3\ov  wveeo. 

Tola  jap  OVK  Zarpwv  /jurj&els  Trplv  eypd^fraro  7rdvr(oi>, 
Ei/  /3i{3\iw  TOVTM,  Trola  BoOevra 

Et  ap*  a/3/oo)9  re  cra^w?,  r^ 

Bif3\ov  dvbdvei,  tclvee  Sevpo  TTO&OV. 

Aliud  eiufdem  ad  candidum  leclorem. 

Accipe  quce  dofti  medici  tibi  cura  parauit 
:55]  Turneri,  notas  quifquis  atiebis  aues. 

Has  tibi  tarn  uarijs  manus  ingeniofa  figuris 

ExpreJJit,  nojfe  ut  quainlibet  inde  qtieas. 
Ne  quoque  non  poffes  has  pernouiffe,  Latinas, 

Anglas,    Teutonicas,  Argolicasq;  facit. 

Liber  ad  leElorem. 

Quifquis  aues  uarias  de  nomine  deq-,  fig^iris 
Noffc  cupis  lector,  me  lege,  dottus  eris. 

Nee  dabo,  crede  mihi,  tibi  munera  parua  laboris 
Nam  nolucrum  res  eft  maxima  fcire  genus. 


Ad  Lee  tor  em  191 


Crebrb  Grdmatici  hie  haret,  flat  /caxfrd 

Nee  facit  officio  ftultula  turba  fatis. 
Hie  ipfos  medicos  errare  miferrima  res  eft, 

Quos  deeet  h&c  animis  nota  tenere  fids. 
Sen,  Maro  fit  pueris,  feu  Nafo  poeta  legendus, 

Sen  fucrint  quczuis  fcripta  legenda  tibi  : 
Difpeream,  Jl  non  multb  tibi  maximus  error 

Occurret  pajfim,  ni  bene  nor  is  aues. 
Autonim  nimiam  placet  hand  pofuiffe  cateruam. 

Vt  tibi,  quce  teneo,  noftra  probare  queam. 
Pliniiis  hie  ille  eft,  &  Ariftoteles,  reliquiq-,, 

Qiiotquot  de  uolucrum  nos  ratione  docent. 
Hoc  f  do,   Turneri  miraberis  ipfe  laborem,  [p.  156] 

Doclrinain,  fummam  cum  pietate  fidem. 


En  tibi,  quos  doc~li  dedit  hie  pia  cura  labores 
Turneri  medici,  candide  lector  habe. 

Innenies  minium  quce  te  didicijfe  iuuabit, 
Hinc  uenient  fructus  in  tua  uota  boni. 


FINIS. 


APPENDIX. 

EXCERPTA  EX  OPERE  IOANNIS  CAII  BRI- 
TANNI  DE  RARIORUM  ANIMALIUM  ATQUE 
STIRPIUM  HISTORIA,  fol.  17—23. 

De  Haliaeto. 

De  Auibus.  T  T  ALIAETOS,  id  genus  aquilae  eft,  quod  ex  mari 
•1  A  lacubus^  pr^dam  qu^rit,  vnde  nomen  inuenit. 
Is  magnitudine  Milui  eft,  capite  albis  &  fufcis  distinclo 
ff  7  b]  lineis,  vt  melino :  roftro  aquilino :  oculis  in  medio 
nigris,  in  ambitu  aureis :  lingua  fere  humana,  nifi 
quod  ad  radicem  vtrin^  habet  appendicem  :  "colore 
per  fumma  afturis,  per  ima  albo:  gutture  maculis 
notato  ruffis  vt  &  ventre,  pectore  medio  pure  candido: 
crure  craffo  &  fquamofo :  pede  vncungui  &  c^ruleo : 
digitis  quatuor,  per  fuperna  ad  dimidiam  longitudi- 
nem  etiam  fquamofis,  ad  reliquam  incifis,  per  inferna 
afperis  &  aculeatis  tenacitatis  caufa:  &  his  tarn  validis, 
vt  flexos  vix  vlla  vi  extendas.  Predator  is  eftpifcium, 
difcufsis  decidentis  corporis  impetu  aquis,  ex  eisque 
viuit.  Et  quamuis  ex  pifce  viuat,  fidipes  tamen  eft 
vtroque  pede,  non  altero  palmipes,  vt  vulgus  putat. 
Giraldus  Cambrenfis  libro  de  Topographia  Hiberniae, 
vbi  de  auibus  biformibus  agit,  hunc  Aurifrifm  vocat: 
&  altero  pede  aperto  &  vnguibus  armato  effe,  altero 
claufo  cum  vulgo  fcribit.  Supra  magnitudinem  cor- 
poris alae  longitude  eft,  quse  ad  pedes  Romanos  duos 
&  digitos  vndecim  extenditur.  Inoleuit  opinio  iftic 
apud  noftrum  vulgus  in  Britannia,  earn  ineffe  vim 
naturalem  huic  aui,  vt  quern  confpexerit  pifcem,  eum 
fe  quam  mox  refupinare  &  conuertere,  atque  ad  fum- 


APPENDIX. 

EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  WORK  OF  JOHN  CAIUS 
<DE  RARIORUM  ANIMALIUM  ATQUE  STIRPIUM 
HISTORIA'  (1570). 

OF  THE  SEA  EAGLE. 

THE  Haliaetos  is  that  kind  of  Eagle,  which  seeks  its  prey 
from  the  sea  and  lakes,  whence  it  takes  its  name.  It  is 
of  the  size  of  a  Kite,  having  the  head  marked  with  white  and 
dusky  lines,  as  in  a  badger;  an  Eagle's  beak;  eyes  black  in 
the  middle,  golden  in  the  outer  circle  ;  a  tongue  almost  like 
that  of  man,  except  that  at  the  root  it  has  an  appendage  on 
either  side;  the  colour  above  that  of  a  Goshawk,  white  below; 
the  throat  marked  with  rufous  spots,  as  is  the  belly;  the 
middle  of  the  breast  pure  white ;  the  legs  thick  and  scaly; 
the  foot  with  curved  claws  and  blue  ;  four  toes  scaly  above 
for  quite  half  of  their  length,  fissured  for  the  rest,  rough  on 
the  lower  part  and  sharp  for  a  firm  hold ;  and  these  so  strong 
that  you  can  scarcely  straighten  them  by  any  force  when 
bent.  This  bird  is  a  preyer  upon  fishes,  the  water  being  cleft 
by  the  shock  of  its  body  as  it  plunges,  and  on  them  it  lives. 
And  though  it  lives  on  fishes,  yet  it  is  cloven  on  each  foot, 
not  webbed  on  one  as  the  vulgar  think.  Giraldus  Cambrensis 
in  his  book  on  the  Topography  of  Ireland,  when  he  treats  of 
unequally  formed  birds,  calls  this  the  Aurifrisius1;  and  writes 
in  common  with  the  vulgar  that  it  has  one  foot  free-toed  and 
armed  with  claws,  the  other  closed  (with  webs).  The  length 
of  the  wing  surpasses  that  of  the  body,  for  it  extends  to  two 
Roman  feet  and  eleven  inches.  In  this  affair  an  opinion  has 
grown  up  among  our  common  people  in  Britain,  that  such  a 
natural  power  exists  in  this  bird  that  any  fish  which  it  sees  turns 
upwards  on  its  back  as  soon  as  possible  and  rises  to  the  surface 

1  Aurifrisius  must  be  the  Latinized  form  of  the  old  French  name 
'Orfraie' — which,  like  Osprey,  is  a  corruption  of  Ossifraga. 

T.  13 


1 94  Appendix 

mam  aquam  afcendere,  in  eaque  fluitare  vt  fopitum, 
quo  facilior  pr^da  fit  volanti.  Ideo^  eius  adeps  stu- 
diofius  afferuatur  a  noftris  pifcatoribus,  quod  eandem 
vim  habere  creditur.  Frequentes  funt  apud  nos  in 
maritimis  locis  &  Vecli  infula.  Noftri  an  Ofprey 
vocant.  Moribus  placidus  eft  &  traclabilis,  &  famis 
[f.  1 8]  patientifsimus.  Vixit  enim  feptem  dies  apud  me  fine 
cibo,  &  in  alta  quiete  :  nifi  fi  hoc  non  mos  fecit  fed 
fames,  quae  omnia  domat.  Carnem  oblatam  recufauit: 
pifcem  non  obtuli,  quod  eum  ex  hoc  vitiere  didici. 
Caro  illi  nigra  eft. 

De  anfere  Brendino. 

Anfer  Brendinus,  auis  eft  marina,  palmipes,  figura 
anferis,  fed  magnitudine  paulo  infra,  capite  albo 
exiguo  &  curto,  fed  roftro  nigro,  a  quo  linea  nigra  ad 
oculum  vtrumque  ducitur,  collo  fufco,  a  peclore  ad 
caudam  ex  dimidio  corpore  inferiori  albo,  coxendice 
munno  (vt  eft  Columbae  vulgaris  color  aut  gruis) 
ex  fuperiori,  ad  collum  fufco,  vt  &  ad  caudam  medio 
inter  vtrumq,,  murino  :  alis  item  murinis,  cum  cauda 
longitudine  paribus,  fed  pennis  ad  extremum  obfuf- 
catis.  Cauda  nigra  eft  ex  albo  enata,  pede  nigro  & 
palmato.  Gregalis  auis  eft  &  garrula.  Ex  pifce 
vi;uit,  frequens  apud  nos  per  littora  in  Britannia. 
Vulgus  Britannorum  quod  ad  littus  habitat  a  colons 
varietate  a  Brendgofe  nominat.  Ornithopolae  Lon- 
dinenfes  Bernaclum  vocant,  cum  dicendum  putem 
Berndclacum  feu  Brendclacum,  quod  antiqui  Britanni 
atque  item  Scoti,  anferes  marines,  paluftres  &  la- 
cuftres  omnes  Clakes  dicebant,  cum  tamen  hodie 
corrupte  dicimus  Fenlakes  &  Fenlagges,  cum  di- 
cendum fuit  Fenclakes.  Varium  item  colorem,  Brend, 
feu  per  metathefim  Bernd  ijdem  appellabant.  Vnde 
[f.  i8b]  bernded  feu  brended  id  animal  dicitur,  quod  in  colore 
murino  variegatum  eft  albo,  vt  eft  hie  anfer.  Non  eft 


Appendix  195 

of  the  water,  and  therein  floats  as  if  stunned,  in  order  that  it 
may  more  readily  become  a  prey  to  the  winged  creature. 
And  therefore  is  its  fat  preserved  with  greater  keenness  by 
our  fishermen  because  it  is  believed  to  have  the  same  virtue. 
They  are  abundant  with  us  on  sea-coasts  and  in  the  Isle 
of  Wight.  Our  people  call  it  an  Osprey.  In  its  habits  it  is 
quiet  and  amenable,  and  most  patient  of  hunger.  For  it  has 
lived  with  me  for  seven  days  without  food,  in  deep  repose; 
unless  indeed  it  was  not  habit  that  caused  this,  but  hunger, 
which  tames  all  things.  It  refused  flesh  when  offered  to  it; 
I  did  not  offer  fish,  because  I  understood  that  it  lived  on  it. 
Its  flesh  is  dark. 

OF  THE  BRENT  GOOSE. 

The  Brent  Goose  is  a  web-footed  sea-bird,  of  the  appear- 
ance of  a  Goose,  but  a  little  less  in  size,  with  the  head  small 
and  short  and  white,  but  the  beak  black,  from  which  a  black 
line  reaches  to  either  eye  ;  the  neck  dusky,  the  lower  half  of 
the  body  from  the  breast  to  the  tail  white ;  the  flank  mouse- 
coloured  above  (like  the  colour  of  a  common  Pigeon  or 
Crane),  dusky  towards  the  neck,  and  also  the  intermediate 
parts  towards  the  tail  mouse-coloured ;  the  wings  also  mouse- 
coloured,  equal  in  length  to  the  tail,  but  with  the  feathers 
darkened  at  the  tip.  The  tail  is  black  from  a  white  base,  the 
foot  black  and  webbed.  It  is  a  gregarious  and  noisy  bird. 
It  lives  on  fish,  and  is  common  with  us  in  Britain  about  the 
coasts.  The  common  people  of  the  Britons  who  live  on  the 
coast,  name  it  a  Brendgose  from  the  varied  nature  of  its 
colouring.  The  London  bird-dealers  call  it  Bernacle,  yet  I 
should  think  that  it  ought  to  be  named  Berndclac  or 
Brendclac,  because  the  Britons  of  old,  as  also  the  Scots, 
called  all  the  Geese  whether  of  the  sea,  marshes  or  lakes 
"  Clakes,"  though  at  the  present  day  we  corruptly  say  Fen- 
lakes  and  Fenlagges  \  when  we  should  say  Fenclakes.  The 
same  people,  moreover,  call  anything  variegated  Brend  or 
by  metathesis  Bernd.  Whence '  an  animal  is  said  to  be 
bernded  or  brended  which  is  variegated  with  white  upon 
a  mouse-coloured  ground 2,  like  this  Goose.  It  is  not,  there- 

1  According  to  this  notion  *  Grey-Lag '  would  be  for  '  Grey-Clak.' 

2  Possibly,  then,  'Bergander'  is  for  '  Bernd-gander.' 

13—2 


1 96  Appendix 

Anfer  ergo  Scotorum  Baffanus  anfer,  qui  in  Baffe  Scotorum 

Baffanus.  Infula  nidum  ponit  atq,  oua,  a  qua  nomen  habet.  In 
hanc  infula  rupem  exiftentem,  nee  in  fummo  quantam 
Miluus  oberret  (vt  Poeta  dixit)  fed  exiguam,  venturi 
ftato  anni  tempore  anferes,  quo  prius  fpeculatu,  qua 
obferuatione  pr^mifsis  nuntijs  vtantur  quam  ingredi- 
untur :  quo  anni  tempore  hoc  faciant,  qua  folitudine 
infulae,  concludentibus  fe  incolis  ad  aliquot  dies, 
donee  fe  firmauerint  anferes,  ne  abigant,  quanta 
multitudine  atq,,  denfitate  inuolent,  fie  vt  in  ferenitate 
folem  adimant,  quot  pifces  afferant,  quot  oua  pan- 
ant,  &  quantos  fructus  in  annos  ex  eis  anferumck 
plumis  atty  oleo  percipiant  infulani  (nam  Pupino- 
rum  pinguedinem  habent  atc^  guftu)  longum  effet 
recenfere. 

De  Anate  Indica. 

Eft  apud  nos  ex  India  anas,  eadem  plane  corporis 
figura,  eodem  roftro  &  pede  quo  vulgaris,  fed  ex 
dimidio  maior  ea  &  grauior.  Caput  illi  rubefcit  vt 
fanguis,  &  bona  pars  coniuncti  colli  a  pofteriore  parte. 
Id  totum  callofa  caro  eft,  &  incifuris  diftincla :  quaq> 
ad  nares  finit,  carunculam  demittit  a  reliqua  came 
figura  feparatam,  qualis  cygnis  eft,  roftro  coniun6lam. 
Nudum  plumis  caput  eft,  &  ea  quoque  colli  pars  quae 
rubefcit,  nifi  quod  in  fummo  capite  crifta  eft  plumea 
atque  Candida,  per  totam  capitis  longitudinem  pro- 
[f.  19]  ten  fa :  quam,  cum  excandefcit,  erigit.  Sub  oculis  ad 
roftri  initium  per  inferna,  inordinate  maculae  nigrae 
carni  funt  induclae  :  &  vna  at^  altera  a  fummo  oculo 
ad  fuperna  eleuate.  Oculus  flauefcit,  feparatus  a 
reliquo  capite  circulo  nigro.  Sub  extreme  oculo  in 
auerfum  macula  eft  fmgularis,  feparata  a  ceteris. 
Roftrum  totum  eft  cceruleum,  nifi  quod  in  extreme 
macula  nigrefcit  vna.  Pluma  illi  per  totum  colli 
proceffum  reliquum,  alba.  Qua  corpori  collum  iugi- 
tur,  circulus  eft  plumeus  niger,  rara  pluma  alba,  ma- 
culofus  &  in^qualis,  per  ima  anguftior,  per  fumma 
latior.  Poft  eum  per  totum  imum  ventrem  pluma 


Appendix  197 

fore,  the  Bass  Goose  of  the  Scots,  which  has  its  nest 
and  eggs  on  the  Bass,  a  Scottish  Isle,  and  thence  takes  its 
name.  Now  when  at  a  certain  season  of  the  year  the 
Geese  are  about  to  return  to  this  precipitous  island  rock — 
not  so  big  on  the  top  as  a  Kite  could  hover  over  (as  the 
Poet  has  said),  but  very  small — it  would  be  too  long  to 
recount  what  spying,  what  circumspection  (scouts  having  been 
sent  ahead)  they  use  before  they  alight :  at  what  time  of  year 
they  do  this,  the  solitary  state  of  the  isle,  when  the  inhabit- 
ants shut  themselves  up  for  several  days,  until  the  Geese 
have  settled  down,  lest  they  should  drive  them  off,  in  what 
numbers  and  in  what  a  throng  they  fly  to  it,  so  that  in  clear 
weather  they  obscure  the  sun,  how  many  fishes  they  bring 
home,  how  many  eggs  they  lay,  and  what  profit  the  dwellers 
in  the  isle  make  annually  from  the  feathers  and  the  oil  of  these 
Geese  (for  they  possess  the  fatness  and  the  taste  of  Pupins). 

OF  THE  INDIAN  DUCK. 

There  is  among  us,  a  Duck  from  India,  with  exactly  the 
same  form  of  body,  the  same  beak  and  foot  as  the  common 
bird,  but  bigger  by  half  and  heavier.  Its  head  is  red  as 
blood,  as  is  a  good  part  of  the  adjoining  neck  behind.  The 
whole  of  this  is  callous  flesh  and  marked  with  fissures :  and 
where  it  ends  at  the  nostrils  it  makes  a  caruncle  like  that  in 
Swans,  separated  in  form  from  the  rest  of  the  flesh,  which 
joins  the  beak.  The  head  and  red  part  of  the  neck  are 
devoid  of  feathers,  save  that  on  the  top  of  the  head  is  a  white 
feathery  crest,  extending  over  the  whole  length  of  the  head  ; 
and  this  the  bird  erects,  when  it  is  excited.  Under  the  eyes 
to  the  beginning  of  the  beak  at  its  lower  part  irregular  black 
spots  are  arranged  on  the  flesh :  and  one  or  two  reach  upward 
from  the  top  of  the  eye  to  the  parts  above.  The  eye  is 
yellowish,  b'eing  separated  by  a  black  ring  from  the  rest  of 
the  head.  Close  behind  the  eye  is  a  solitary  mark,  apart 
from  the  rest.  The  whole  beak  is  blue  save  that  at  the  tip 
one  spot  shews  black.  The  plumage  over  all  the  rest  of  the 
neck  is  white.  Where  the  neck  joins  the  body,  there  is  a 
ring  of  black  feathers  spotted  and  irregular — with  an  occa- 
sional white  one — narrower  below,  broader  above.  Behind 
this  the  plumage  is  white  over  the  whole  of  the  belly  below: 


1 98  Appendix 

alba  eft :  per  fummum  corpus,  fufca,  fed  ab  circulo 
illo  nigro  pluma  alba  in  fummo  diuifa.  Extremae  alae 
atque  cauda  cum  fplendore  virefcunt,  vt  Cantharides. 
Tibiarum  cutis  fufca  eft,  incifuris  leuibus  per  circuitus 
du6la.  Membrana  per  interualla  digitorum  pedis 
pallefcit  magis,  vna  atque  altera  refperfa  macula  fufca, 
incerta  lege  difpofita,  nifi  in  interuallo  finiftri  pedis, 
vbi  fex  per  digiti  extremi  longitudine  difponuntur. 
Tardo  gradu  incedit  propter  corporis  grauitatem. 
Vox  illi  non  qualis  c^teris  anatibus,  fed  rauca,  qualis 
faucibus  humanis  catarrho  obfefsis.  Mas  maior  eft 
quam  fcemina.  Ea  fimilis  mari  eft,  nifi  quod  non  ita 
variegato  corporis  colore  eft.  Viuit  ex  ccenofis  aquis, 
&  alijs  quibus  cetera  vulgaris  anas  gaudet. 

[f.  i9b]  De  Anate  Turcica  fine  Indica  altera. 

Anati  quidem  fimilis  eft  quae  Turcica  fiue  Indica 
dicitur,  fed  quantitate  &  magnitudine  corporis  anfe- 
rem  fere  diceres.  Tota  eft  Candida,  nifi  quod  roftrum, 
tibiae,  atque  pedes  rubent,  genaeq.,  item  callofa  carne, 
&  roftri  tuber  fupra  nares.  Caro  illi  dulcis  eft,  &  vox 
fibilus.  Sunt  eius  generis  qu^dam,  colore  albo  & 
nigro  variegatae.  In  aqua  viuit,  locisq^  gaudet  cce- 
nofis  vt  c£terae  anates. 

De  Pica  marina. 

Pica  marina  (vt  noftrum  vulgus  nominat)  paulo 
maior  eft  terreftri,  colons  quidem  varietate  in  corpore 
fimilis,  fed  colore  pedis,  digitorum  numero,  incifuris, 
cauda  atque  roftro  admodum  difsimilis.  Nam  pes 
rubet,  &  digito  pofteriori  deftituitur,  nee  incifuras 
habet  is  &  tibia,  fed  imprefsiones  quafda,  pifcium 
fquamis  quam  fimillimas.  Fiffus  eft,  fed  ita  in  digitis 
vtrinq,  luxuriat  cutis,  quemadmodu  in  fulicis  pene,  vt 
ad  natandu  quoque  pes  fa6lus  videatur.  Auis  eft 
Amphibios.  Caudam  curtam  habet,  roftrum  longum 
tenue,  perpendiculariter  latum,  non  teres,  colore 


Appendix  1 99 

and  dusky  over  the  upper  surface  of  the  body,  but  the  white 
feathering  above  is  divided  by  the  black  ring.  The  ends  of 
the  wings  and  the  tail  have  a  greenish  gloss  as  in  Cantharides. 
The  skin  of  the  legs  is  dusky,  marked  all  round  with  slight 
fissures.  The  web  in  the  spaces  between  the  toes  is  paler, 
marked  now  and  again  with  a  dusky  spot,  arranged  in  no 
precise  plan,  except  in  those  of  the  left  foot,  where  six  are 
distributed  over  the  length  of  the  outer  toe.  The  bird  moves 
with  slow  step  on  account  of  the  weight  of  its  body.  Its 
voice  is  not  like  that  of  other  Ducks,  but  hoarse;  such  (as 
comes)  from  the  human  throat  when  attacked  by  a  catarrh. 
The  male  is  larger  than  the  female.  She  is  like  the  male, 
save  that  she  has  not  so  varied  a  colouring  of  body.  The 
bird  gets  its  living  from  muddy  waters,  and  those  others 
wherein  the  other  common  Duck  delights. 

OF  THE  TURKISH  OR  SECOND  INDIAN  DUCK. 

That  which  is  called  the  Turkish  or  Indian  is  like  a  Duck, 
but  (judging)  from  the  bulk  and  bigness  of  its  body  you 
would  almost  call  it  a  Goose.  It  is  entirely  white,  except 
that  the  beak,  legs  and  feet  are  red,  while  the  cheeks  also 
have  callous  skin,  and  there  is  a  protuberance  on  the  beak 
above  the  nostrils.  Its  flesh  is  sweet,  and  its  voice  whistling. 
There  are  some  of  this  kind  variegated  with  black  and  white. 
It  lives  upon  the  water,  and  delights  in  muddy  places,  as  do 
other  Ducks. 

OF  THE  SEA  PIE. 

The  Sea  Pie  (as  our  common  people  call  it)  is  a  little 
larger  than  the  land  Pie,  yet  like  it  in  the  varied  colour  of  its 
body,  while  very  dissimilar  in  the  colour  of  the  foot,  the 
number  of  toes,  their  scutellations,  the  tail  and  the  beak.  For 
the  foot  is  red  and  lacks  a  hind  toe,  nor  has  that  member  or 
the  tibia  scutellations,  but  merely  marks,  as  like  as  may  be  to 
the  scales  of  fishes.  It  is  cloven-footed,  but  there  is  such  an 
extent  of  skin  on  the  toes  on  each  side — almost  as  much  as 
in  Coots — that  the  foot  would  even  seem  to  be  formed  for 
swimming.  It  is  an  amphibious  bird.  It  has  a  short  tail, 
a  beak  long  and  thin,  vertically  broad,  not  smooth,  in  colour 


2oo  Appendix 

in  fummo  ad  caput  rubrum,  per  reliquum  pallidum, 
nee  eft  in  fine  acutum,  fed  obtufum  id.  In  menfa 
grata  auis  eft. 

De  gallina  Getula  domejlica. 

Gallina  Getula  domeftica,  paulo  minor  noftra  eft, 
[f.  20]  colore  in  fupernis  obfcure  ruffa,  in  infernis  pallida, 
pluma  capitis  incompofita  &  erecta,  crifta  ferrata, 
humili,  fimplici,  carnea :  gutturofa  magis  perpetuo, 
quam  noftrae  cum  glociunt :  tibijs  pedibusque  plumo- 
fis,  maxime  per  exteriora  &  pofleriora  vt  columbis, 
ne  per  interiores  plumas  greffus  impedirentur:  cetera 
vt  vulgaris. 

De  Meleagride. 

Meleagris  pulcherrima  auis  eft,  magnitudine  cor- 
poris,  figura,  roftro,  &  pede  Phafiano  fimilis  :  vertice 
corneo,  in  apicem  corneum  a  pofteriori  parte  pr£- 
cipitem,  in  anteriori  leniter  accliuem  eleuato,  armatus. 
Eum  natura  voluiffe  videtur  inferiori  capitis  parti 
tribus  veluti  lacinijs  fe  promittentibus  committere 
atque  deligare :  inter  oculum  &  aurem  vtrinque  vna, 
&  in  fronte  media  item  vna:  omnibus  eiufdem  cum 
vertice  colons:  ita  vt  infideat  capiti  eo  modo,  quo 
ducalis  pileus  illuftrifsimo  duci  Veneto,  fi  quod  iam 
aduerfum  eft,  auerfum  fieret.  Rugofus  is  eft:  inferius, 
per  circuitum  :  qua  fe  attolit,  in  directum.  In  fummo 
collo  ad  occipitium  nafcuntur  erecli  quidam  atque 
nigri  pili  (non  plumse)  in  contrarium  verfi.  Oculi 
toti  nigri,  aeque  &  in  orbem  palpebrse  atty  cilia,  fi 
maculam  in  fumma  &  pofteriori  parte  fupercilij  vtri- 
ufque  demas.  Imum  caput  per  longitudinem  vtrin- 
que caro  quidam  callofa  colore  fanguineo  occupat, 
quae  ne  propendeat  veluti  Galli  gallinacei  palea1,  vt 
[f.  20  b]  replicaretur  natura  voluit,  &  auerfo  duclu  in  duos 
proceffus  acutos  a  capite  liberos  finiret.  Ex  hac 
carne  attollunt  fe  vtrinque  carunculae,  quibus  nares  in 
ambitu  veftiuntur,  &  caput  in  anteriori  parte  a  ce/tero 
roftro  pallido  feparatur.  Haru  ad  roftrum  margines 
inferiores,  replicantur  etiam  leuiter  fub  vtroque  nare. 
1  Possibly  'palea'  is  a  misprint  for  'galea,'  comb. 


Appendix  201 

red  on  the  top  near  the  head,  pale  on  the  remainder,  nor  is  it 
sharp  at  the  end,  but  blunt.  It  is  an  acceptable  bird  for  the 
table. 

OF  THE  DOMESTIC  GETULIAN  HEN. 
The  domestic  Getulian  Hen,  is  a  little  smaller  than  our 
own,  in  colour  dull  rufous  above,  pale  below,  with  an  erect 
crest  of  disintegrated  feathers  on  the  head,  a  serrated  comb, 
low,  simple  and  fleshy:  more  continuously  noisy  than  ours 
are,  when  they  cluck:  with  the  legs  and  feet  feathered,  for 
the  most  part  outwardly  and  behind  as  in  Doves,  that  the 
progress  should  not  be  hindered  by  feathers  on  the  inside, 
otherwise  it  is  like  the  common  kind. 

OF  THE  MELEAGRIS. 

The  Meleagris  is  a  very  beautiful  bird,  like  to  a  Pheasant 
in  bigness  of  body,  form,  beak  and  foot:  provided  with  a 
horny  poll  rising  to  an  abrupt  horny  peak  at  the  back,  which 
slopes  down  gently  in  front.  Nature  seems  to  have  designed 
to  join  and  bind  this  to  the  lower  part  of  the  head  by  three 
hanging  lappets  as  it  were;  one  on  each  side  between  the  eye 
and  the  ear,  and  also  one  on  the  middle  of  the  forehead,  all  of 
the  same  colour  as  the  poll,  so  that  it  sits  on  the  head  in  the 
same  way  that  the  ducal  cap  does  on  that  of  the  most  noble 
Duke  of  Venice,  if  that  part  which  is  usually  in  front  be 
turned  behind.  It  is  wrinkled  round  about  below,  but  verti- 
cally where  it  rises  above.  From  the  top  of  the  neck  to  the 
occiput  spring  certain  erect  black  bristles  (not  feathers), 
turned  backwards.  The  eyes  are  wholly  black,  and  equally 
so  are  the  eyelids  and  eyelashes  around  them,  if  you  except 
a  mark  on  the  top  and  back  of  each  eyebrow.  A  kind  of 
callous  flesh  of  a  blood-red  colour  covers  the  lower  part  of  the 
head  along  its  length ;  nature  has  designed  that  it  should  be 
folded,  and  should  not  hang  forward  like  the  wattle  of  the 
Fowl,  and  being  led  backward  end  in  two  acute  processes 
free  from  the  head.  From  this  flesh  rise  on  either  side 
caruncles,  by  which  the  nostrils  are  clothed  round  about,  and 
by  which  the  head  is  divided  in  front  from  the  rest  of  the 
pale-coloured  beak.  The  lower  edges  of  these  by  the  beak 
are  also  folded  slightly  under  each  nostril.  What  intervenes 


2O2  -  Appendix 

Quod  inter  verticem  &  carnem  eft  a  dextra  &  finiftra 
parte,  album  deplume  eft,  leui  cceruleo  mixtum. 
Color  verticis  atque  apicis,  idem  prorfus  eft  cu  colore 
daclyli.  Tibiae  nigrae  funt,  &  in  anteriori  parte,  fqua- 
mofa  incifura  duplici  notatae:  in  pofteriori  nulla,  fed 
leues,  &  veluti  pun6lis  quibufdam  fui  colons  refperfae. 
Color  illi  fub  faucibus  exquifite  eft  purpureus :  in 
collo  obfcure  purpureus :  in  c^tero  corpore  per  fumma 
contuenti,  qualis  confurgit  fi  album  &  nigrum  polli- 
nem  'vtcunque  tenuiter  tritum,  colori  fufco  rarius 
afpergas,  nee  tamen  commifceas.  Tali  colori  maculae 
albae  ouales  aut  rotundae  per  totum  corpus  ineffe 
vifuntur,  per  fumma  minores,  per  ima  maiores,  com- 
prehenfae  interuallis  linearum  (vt  apparet  in  plu- 
marum  compofitione  naturali)  quae  fe  mutuo  inter- 
fecant  obliquo  hinc  inde  du6lu,  per  fumma  tantum 
corporis,  non  item  per  ima.  Id  non  ex  toto  corpore 
folum  deprehendes,  fed  ex  fingulis  auulfis  plumis. 
Superiores  enim,  obliquis  lineis  fe  mutuo  interfecan- 
tibus,  aut,  fi  mauis,  orbiculis  quibufdam  ex  albo  & 
nigro  (vt  dixi)  polline  confeclis,  &  per  extremitates 
coniunclis,  vt  in  fauis  aut  rhetibus,  maculas  ouales  aut 
[f.  2 1]  rotundas  albas  in  fpacijs  fufcis  comprehendunt :  in- 
feriores  non  item.  Vtr^q.,  tamen  fimili  lege  pofitae 
funt.  Nam  in  alijs  plumis,  ordine  ita  iunclae  funt,  vt 
fere  triangulos  acutos  faciant :  in  alijs,  vt  oualem 
figura  repre/entent.  Huius  generis  ordines  tres  aut 
quatuor  in  fmgulis  fuis  plumis  funt,  ita  vt  minores  in 
maioru  complexu  reponantur.  In  extremis  alis  &  in 
cauda,  reclis  lineis  ^quidiftantibus  procedunt  per 
longitudinem  maculae.  Inter  gallum  &  gallinam  vix 
difcernes,  tanta  eft  fimilitudo,  nifi  quod  gallinae  caput 
totum  nigrum  eft.  Vox  illi  eft  diuifus  fibilus,  non 
fonorior,  non  maior  voce  coturnicis,  fed  fimilior  voci 
perdicis,  nifi  quod  fubmifsior  ea  eft,  nee  ita  clara. 
Curfu  velox  eft. 

De  Morinello. 

Morinellus,    auis    nobis    cum    Morinis    communis, 
ftulta  admodum  eft,  fed  in  cibis  delicata,  eoque  aptid 


Appendix  203 

between  the  poll  and  the  flesh  on  the  right  and  left  is  white 
and  unfeathered,  mixed  with  light  blue.  The  colour  of  the 
poll  and  peak  of  the  head  is  exactly  the  same  as  that  of  the 
toes.  The  legs  are  black,  marked  in  front  with  a  double  scaly 
fissure,  on  the  back  with  none,  but  smooth,  and  sprinkled 
as  it  were  with  some  spots,  of  a  peculiar  colour.  The  colour 
below  the  jaws  is  exquisite  purple  ;  on  the  neck  dark  purple  ; 
on  the  rest  of  the  body,  if  you  look  from  above,  it  stands  out 
as  if  you  sprinkled  black  and  white  flour,  ground  very  fine  with 
dusky  colour  at  intervals,  and  yet  did  not  mix  them  up.  On 
such  a  ground  oval  or  round  white  spots  seem  to  be  imposed 
throughout  the  whole  body,  smaller  above  and  larger  below, 
arranged  in  lines  at  intervals  (as  appears  in  the  natural 
structure  of  feathers)  which  cut  one  another  here  and  there  in 
reciprocal  oblique  arrangement,  only  on  the  top  of  the  body, 
however,  and  not  below.  This  you  will  observe  not  only 
from  the  body  as  a  whole,  but  from  individual  feathers  if 
plucked  out.  For  the  upper  feathers,  with  their  oblique  lines 
cutting  one  another  reciprocally,  or,  if  you  will  it,  with  certain 
rounds  composed  of  black  and  white  flour  (as  I  have  said), 
and  meeting  towards  the  tips,  as  in  honey-combs  or  nets, 
enclose  oval  or  round  white  spots  within  dusky  spaces :  but 
the  lower  do  not.  Both,  however,  are  arranged  by  a  similar 
law,  for  on  some  feathers  they  are  so  joined  in  rows  as  to 
almost  make  acute  triangles  ;  in  others  so  as  to  present  an 
oval  form.  Of  this  kind  there  are  three  or  four  rows  on  each 
feather,  so  that  the  smaller  are  contained  in  the  compass  of 
the  larger.  At  the  tips  of  the  wings  and  on  the  tail,  spots 
lie  along  the  length  in  equidistant  straight  lines.  You  can 
hardly  distinguish  between  the  cock  and  the  hen,  so  great 
is  the  likeness,  save  that  the  head  of  the  hen  is  wholly  black. 
The  voice  is  a  shrill  double  cry,  not  more  sonorous  or  louder 
than  that  of  the  Quail,  but  like  that  of  the  Partridge,  except  that 
the  latter  is  lower,  and  not  so  clear.  In  running  it  is  swift. 

OF   THE   MORINELLUS. 

The  Morinellus,  a  bird  common  to  us  and  the  Morini1, 
is  very  foolish,  but  delicate  to  eat,  and  on  that  account  is  a 

1-The  people  of  a  district  in  Northern  France. 


2O4  Appendix 

nos  in  fummis  delitijs  atque  pretio  eft.  Imitatrix 
auis  eft.  Ideo,  vt  Scops  &  Otus  faltandi  imitatione, 
ita  h?c  no6lu  ad  lumen,  candelae  pro  capientis  geftu 
capitur.  Nam  fi  is  expandit  brachium,  extendit  & 
ilia  alam :  fi  is  tibiam,  &  ilia  itidem.  Breuiter  quic- 
quid  gerit  auceps,  idem  facit  &  ales.  Ita  humanis 
geftibus  intenta  auis,  ab  aucipe  decipitur,  &  rhete 
obuelatur.  Auis  parua  eft,  magnitudine  Sturni,  tribus 
tantum  digitis  anterioribus,  pofteriori  nullo,  vertice 
nigro,  genis  candidis,  coturnicis  fere  colore,  fi  cinericei 
[f.  21  b]  parum  admifceas,  potifsimum  circa  collum.  Mori- 
nellum  voco  duplici  de  caufa,  &  quod  auis  eft  apud 
Morinos  frequetifsima,  &  quod  auis  ftolida  eft,  quae 
ftultitia  gr^cis  /jucoporr)^  dicitur.  Earn  ob  rem  noftri 
etiam  Doterellu  vocant,  quafi  ftultitia  delirantem 
dicant. 

De  Puphino  Jlue  Pupino. 

Eft  auis  qu^dam  marina  noftras,  parui  anatis 
(quam  /36o-/ca$a  Gr^ci  vocant)  magnitudine  &  figura 
corporis,  pedibus  palmatis  &  rubefcentibus,  ad  pofte- 
riora  magis  pofitis  quam  ceteris  palmipedibus  exceptis 
pygofcelibus :  roftro  tenuiore  magis  latitudine  fe  de- 
mittente,  quam  longiore  proceffu  fe  extendente,  qua- 
tuor  incifuris  rubris  a  fumma,  duabus  ab  ima  parte 
fulcato,  in  colore  pallentis  ochrae.  Quod  inter  has  & 
caput  eft,  fubcceruleum  eft,  &  ea  figura  qua  luna  eft, 
cum  exa6li  dies  decem  funt  a  coitu.  Per  fumma  cor- 
poris totius  nigrefcit,  nifi  qua  oculi  vfunt,  qui  in  albo 
conftituti  funt:  per  ima  exalbefcit  tota,  nifi  fummo 
pe6lore,  qua  nigricat.  Viuit  ex  mari.  Hunc  noftri 
Puphinum  dicunt,  nos  Pupinum  a  naturali  voce  pupin. 
Latitat  in  cauernis,  vt  charadrius.  Earn  ob  rem 
edu6la  e  cuniculi  cauea  auis  he;c  eft,  loco  non  procul 
a  mari  pofito,  a  venatore  quodam  immiffa  viuerra. 
In  pifcis  vfu  apud  nos  eft  in  folenni  ieiunio  per 
[f.  22]  quadragefimam :  carne  &  guftu,  Phocae  marinae  haud 
difsimilis.  Gregale  animal  eft,  &  fua  habet  latitandi 
tempora,  vt  Cuculus  &  Hyrundo.  Oua  parit  in  terrae 


Appendix  205 

very  great  luxury  with  us,  and  of  great  price.  It  is  a  mimic. 
And  so,  as  the  Scops  and  Otus  are  taken  by  an  imitation  of 
dancing,  this  bird  is  caught  at  night  by  the  light  of  a  candle 
according  to  the  motion  of  the  captor.  For  if  he  stretches 
out  an  arm,  the  bird  lifts  a  wing ;  if  he  stretches  out  a  leg,  it 
does  likewise.  In  short,  whatever  part  the  fowler  plays,  the 
bird  does  the  same.  So  being  intent  on  the  man's  actions,  it 
is  fooled  by  the  bird-catcher  and  caught  in  his  net.  It  is  a 
little  bird,  of  the  size  of  a  Starling,  with  only  three  fore-toes 
and  no  hind-toe,  a  black  crown,  white  cheeks,  and  colour  almost 
that  of  a  Quail,  if  you  were  to  mix  with  it  a  little  ash-colour, 
especially  round  the  neck.  I  call  it  Morinellus  for  a  double 
reason,  both  because  it  is  a  bird  most  abundant  among  the 
Morini,  and  because  it  is  a  foolish  bird,  foolishness  being  by 
the  Greeks  called  fAwporrjs.  On  this  account  our  people  also 
call  it  Doterell,  as  if  they  were  to  say  doating  with  folly. 

OF  THE   PUPHIN    OR   PUPIN. 

There  is  a  certain  sea-bird  of  our  country,  in  size  and 
form  of  body  like  a  little  Duck  (which  the  Greeks  call  /3o<j/ca9), 
with  webbed  and  reddish  feet,  placed  nearer  to  the  hinder, 
parts  than  in  other  web-footed  kinds  except  the  Pygosceles : 
with  a  somewhat  thin  beak,  rather  more  extended  in  breadth 
vertically  than  stretching  laterally  to  a  very  great  length, 
furrowed  by  four  red  grooves  above,  and  two  below,  pale 
ochre  in  colour.  The  part  lying  between  these  and  the  head 
is  bluish,  and  of  such  a  shape  as  is  the  moon,  when  ten  days 
have  elapsed  from  conjunction.  The  bird  is  black  on  the  upper 
surface  of  the  whole  body,  save  where  the  eyes  are  set,  which 
are  enclosed  in  white :  but  it  is  wholly  white  below,  save  on 
the  upper  breast,  where  it  is  black.  It  gets  its  living  from  the 
sea.  This  bird  our  people  call  the  Puphin,  we  say  Pupin 
from  its  ordinary  cry  of  "  pupin."  It  hides  in  holes,  as  the 
Charadrius  does.  And  so  it  is  driven  out  from  a  rabbit's 
burrow  by  a  ferret  turned  in  by  any  hunter  in  a  place  situated 
not  far  from  the  sea.  It  is  used  as  fish  among  us  during 
the  solemn  fast  of  Lent:  being  in  substance  and  taste 
not  unlike  a  Seal.  It  is  a  gregarious  animal,  and  has  its 
proper  time  for  lying  hidden,  as  the  Cuckoo  and  Swallow. 


2o6  Appendix 

cuniculis  bina  magna  ex  parte.  Alis  non  confidit 
nifi  confpeclo  mari.  Pigrum  videtur  animal,  fed 
iniurie  patiens.  Vefcitur  carne  lubentius  quam  pifce, 
&  cuniculi  quam  alterius  animalis,  fed  vtroque  crudo : 
co6la  &  affa  refpuit.  Cetera  non  attingit  humana 
gdulia.  Aeftate  fe  lauat,  fed  nunquam,  quod  obfer- 
uatione  deprehendi  poteft,  bibit :  an  quod  aqua  ma- 
rina carebat,  nefcio.  Excrementum  alui  illi  eft  quale 
accipitri.  Cum  non  effet  quod  ederet,  cibum  voce 
naturali  geminata  &  fummiffa,  pupin,  pupin  clamitan- 
do,  implorabat.  Alebam  domi  meae  ad  menfes  o6lo. 
Mordebat  lubenter  miniftrantes  cibum,  aut  attingentes, 
fed  benignius  atque  innocentius.  Exiguo  cibo  fati- 
atur.  Non  enim  vorax  auis  eft  vt  Coruorans  nofter, 
Coruorans  quern  tu  (Gefnere  charifsime)  coruum  aquaticum  & 
Jen  ergus.  mergum  rec^e  nominas,  noftri  Cormorantem  corrupte 
dicunt,  nefcientes  ex  vocis  aetymo  coruum  vorantem 
appellari  debere.  Quod  naturaliter  facit,  cum  illi  a 
natura  vnicum  tantum  inteftinum  fine  elice  (vt  aiunt) 
rectum  fit  conceffum,  propter  vehementiam  caloris 
naturalis,  citifsime  abfumentis  quae  affumuntur  omnia. 


De  Spermologo  fen  Frugilega. 

Spermologus  nofter  a  cornice  nigra  nulla  in  re 
differt,  nifi  moru  innocentia,  TrpoKo^w  feu  ingluuie, 
[f.  22  b]  qua  granum  legendo  continet,  vt  ad  fuos  referat : 
(eft  enim  gutturofus)  albo  callo,  qui  in  fummo  roftro 
eft  ad  caput :  &  voce,  quam  habet  gutturalem  & 
raucam.  Vnde  forfan  noftris,  quibus  nomina  rerum 
multa  Latina  funt  &  Greca  (vti  libro  noftro  de  fym- 
phonia  vocum  Britannicarum  diximus)  rouce  dicitur, 
quafi  rauce  Anglis,  raucus  Latinis  fit  dicendus  :  victu 
quoque  a  coruo  differt,  quod  frumento,  hordeo,  & 
C£tero  femine  (vnde  nomen  0-7^/40X0701;  inuenit  apud 
Graces)  vefcitur.  Vefcitur  &  vermibus,  vbi  frugis  fru- 
mentique  copia  non  eft.  Hinc  ruftici  noftri  dubitant 


Appendix  207 

It  lays  for  the  most  part  two  eggs  in  rabbit  burrows  in  the 
earth.  It  does  not  trust  to  its  wings  save  in  sight  of  the  sea. 
It  seems  a  lazy  animal,  but  patient  of  injury.  It  eats  flesh 
more  readily  than  fish,  and  that  of  a  rabbit  in  preference  to 
that  of  any  other  animal,  but  in  either  case  raw :  it  throws  up 
what  is  boiled  or  roasted,  Other  human  victuals  it  does  not 
touch.  In  summer  it  washes  itself  but  never  drinks,  so  far  as 
can  be  ascertained  by  observation  ;  whether  this  was  because 
salt  water  was  wanting,  I  know  not.  The  droppings  are  like 
those  of  an  Accipiter.  When  there  was  nothing  to  eat  it 
begged  for  food  with  its  ordinary  cry  repeated  and  lowered,  by 
calling  out  "pupin,  pupin."  I  kept  one  at  my  house  for  eight 
months.  It  bit  with  right  good  will  those  who  supplied  it  with 
food  or  touched  it,  but  in  a  mild  and  harmless  way.  It  was 
satisfied  with  little  food.  For  it  is  not  a  voracious  bird,  as  our 
Corvorant  is,  which  you  (dearest  Gesner)  rightly  name  Corvus 
aquations  and  Mergus,  while  our  people  corruptly  say  Cormo- 
rant, not  knowing  from  the  derivation  of  the  word  that  it 
ought  to  be  called  the  Crow  that  devours.  And  this  it  does 
naturally,  since  it  is  endowed  by  nature  with  only  one  in- 
testine straight  and  without  a  coil  (as  they  say),  on  account 
of  the  vehemence  of  the  natural  heat,  which  very  quickly 
consumes  all  that  it  swallows. 


OF  THE  SPERMOLOGUS  OR  FRUGILEGA. 

Our  Spermologus  differs  in  nothing  from  a  black  Crow, 
save  in  the  harmlessness  of  its  habits,  in  the  7r/>oXo/3o?  or  crop, 
which  holds  the  grain  as  it  is  picked  up,  that  it  may  bear  it  to 
its  young  (for  it  is  pouched):  in  the  white  callus,  which 
extends  from  the  base  of  the  beak  to  the  head  ;  and  in  its 
voice,  which  is  guttural  and  harsh.  Whence  possibly  by  our 
people,  among  whom  there  exist  many  Latin  and  Greek 
names  for  things  (as  we  have  said  in  our  book  on  the 
Harmony  of  British  words)  it  is  called  Rouke,  as  if  it  should 
be  called  Rauce  by  the  English  and  Raucus  by  the  Latins : 
also  in  food  it  differs  from  the  Crow  in  that  it  eats  wheat, 
barley,  and  other  seeds  (whence  it  got  the  name  of  o-Tre/o/zo- 
Xtxyo?  among  the  Greeks.  It  also  eats  worms,  when  there  is 
not  plenty  of  corn  or  grain.  Hence  our  country  people  doubt 


208  Appendix 

maior  ne  fit  ex  eis  vtilitas  agris  dum  legunt  vermen, 
frugis  &  fementis  peftem,  an  inutilitas  hominibus 
dum  vorant  granum,  hominis  nutri  men  turn.  Tanta 
tamen  multitudo  eft,  vt  legibus  condemnentur :  inno- 
cens  alioqui  auis  atq^  vtilis.  Agricolis  enim  teneri 
adhuc  ex  nido,  in  cibo  funt.  Non  nifi  excelfis  arbo 
ribus,  idque  focietate  quadam  numero^  nidificant, 
cohabitant,  &  confidunt. 


De  Sacropfittaco. 

Pfittacorum  plura  effe  genera  obferuaui.  Quidam 
enim  pufilli,  magnitudine  videlicet  turdi,  toto  quidem 
corpore  virides  funt,  fed  caudam  longam  atque  graci- 
lem,  &  earn  aut  flauam,  viridem,  aut  puniceam  habent. 
Quidem1  rurfum  grandes  funt  admodum,  cornicis  mag- 
nitudine, ex  toto  punicei  feu  rubri,  nifi  fub  imo  ventre, 
[f.  23]  extremis  alis,  &  extima  cauda,  quibus  partibus  cum 
cceruleo  virefcunt.  His  roftrum  eft  magnu,  cauum, 
pellucidum,  &  aduncum,  medio  tantum  fui  pallidum, 
vtroque  extremo  ex  parte  nigrum,  vt  &  inferior  max- 
illa tota  nigra,  cuius  cauitatem  lingua  dura"  &  nigra 
c^terorum  Pfittacorum  modo  &  forma  occupat.  Vtrin- 
que  genae,  in  cute  rugofa,  figura  fere  triangulari  ob- 
tufa,  candicant,  rubris  mollium  pennarum  ordinibus 
^quidiftanti  parallelo  induclis,  &  alicubi  etiam  fine 
ordine.  Oculus  paruus,  &  in  albo  cilio  cuticulari 
conftitutus,  pupillam  habet  nigram,  quam  circundat 
aureus  circulus.  Digitos  habet  quatuor  ita  efifor- 
inatos,  vt  videatur  natura  voluiffe  omnes  anteriores 
feciffe,  retorfiffe  tamen  duos  in  auerfum  firmandi 
corporis  caufa.  Hos  Brafilia  mittit,  quos  propter 
infignem  magnitudinem  Sacropfittacos  nominamus. 
Sacrum.  Veteres  enim  quod  pr^clarum  magnumque  erat, 
facrum  dicebant.  Vt  facrum  os,  facram  anchoram, 
facrum  falconem,  quern  hierofalconem  dicunt,  facrum 
pifcem,  iepbv  Aiei>o9,  facram  famem,  &  facrum  morbum. 
Huius  generis  imaginem  quam  a  nobis  accepifti, 
fubiunge.  C^teros  inter  hos  magnitudine  medios, 
aliae  regiones,  vt  infula  Hifpania,  Aegyptus,  &  India 
ferunt,  fed  colore  vario.  Alij  enim  toto  corpore 
cinereo,  caudas  habent  fultas,  breuiores  &  puniceas, 

1  A  misprint  for  Quidam. 


Appendix  209 

whether  their  utility  is  greater  in  the  fields,  when  they  pick 
up  the  vermin,  destructive  to  crops  and  seeds,  or  their  harm- 
fulness  to  men,  when  they  devour  grain,  the  food  of  man. 
However  the  number  of  them  is  so  great,  that  they  are 
condemned  by  the  laws  ;  harmless  and  useful  birds  in  other 
respects.  For,  when  still  tender  from  the  nest,  they  are 
used  as  food  by  country  men.  Only  in  lofty  trees,  and  that 
as  it  were,  in  company  and  in  numbers  do  they  nest,  abide 
and  roost. 

OF  THE  SACROPSITTACUS. 

I  have  observed  that  there  are  many  kinds  of  Parrots.  For 
some  that  are  small,  namely  of  the  size  of  a  Thrush,  have  the 
whole  body  quite  green,  but  the  tail,  which  is  long  and  slender, 
either  yellow,  green,  or  crimson.  Again  some  are  very 
large,  of  the  size  of  a  Crow,  altogether  crimson  or  red,  except 
under  the  lower  belly,  on  the  ends  of  the  wings,  and  on  the 
tip  of  the  tail,  on  which  parts  they  shew  greenish  blue.  These 
have  a  large  beak,  hollow,  shining  and  hooked,  pale  only  in 
its  middle,  partly  black  at  each  end,  while  the  lower  jaw 
is  entirely  black,  the  cavity  being  filled  by  the  tongue,  which 
is  hard  and  black  of  the  style  and  shape  of  that  of  other 
Parrots.  The  cheeks  on  both  sides  are  whitish  on  the 
wrinkled  skin,  in  shape  almost  obtusely  triangular,  the  rows  of 
soft  red  feathers  being  set  in  equidistant  parallel  lines,  though 
in  some  places  also  without  being  in  rows.  The  eye,  small 
and  set  in  a  white  ring  of  skin,  has  a  black  pupil,  which  is 
surrounded  by  a  golden  circle.  It  has  four  toes  fashioned 
in  such  a  way  that  nature  seems  to  have  intended  to  place 
all  of  them  in  front,  but  to  have  turned  two  of  them  back  for 
the  sake  of  supporting  the  body.  Brasil  sends  us  these  birds, 
which  we  call  Sacropsittaci  on  account  of  their  remarkable 
size.  For  the  ancients  used  to  call  that  Sacrum,  which  was 
notable  and  large.  As  the  os  sacrum,  anchora  sacra,  falco 
sacer — which  they  call  Hierofalco,  piscis  sacer,  lepov  //,eVo<?, 
fames  sacra,  and  morbus  sacer.  Compare  with  these  the 
picture  of  this  kind,  which  you  have  received  from  us.  Other 
regions,  as  the  Spanish  Isle,  Egypt  and  India,  produce  other 
kinds  which  are  midway  in  size,  but  with  various  colouring. 
For  some  with  the  whole  body  grey  have  strong  tails,  some- 

T. 


2 1  o  Appendix 

in  extremoque  lunares.  Alij  ex  toto  virides  funt 
Alij  cum  corpore  vireant,  cauda  longa  flauefcunt. 
[f.  23  b]  Mores  habent  omnes  fimiles,  &  vi<5lum  communem. 
nifi  quod  Sacropfittacus,  pane  bera  macerato,  carne, 
&  pifce  etiam  vefcatur. 

De  Coruis  albis. 

Anno  domini.  1548.  Augufto  menfe,  coruos  duos 
candidos  ex  eodem  nido  vidi  &  contrectaui  iftic  in 
Cumbria  noftrae  Britannia^,  apud  eiufdem  prouinciae 
comitem  natiuos,  atque  ita  ad  aucupium  faclos  vt 
accipitres.  Nam  &  brachio  falconarij  quiete  infidere, 
&  foluti  ad  eius  vocem  atque  fignum  vel  e  longinquo 
quam  celerrime  aduolare  do6li  erant.  Hos  nihil  eft 
infaufhum  cofequutu,  vt  albas  illas  hirundines,  de 
quibus  Alexander  Myndius  apud  yElianu.  Nam  qui 
Vrfus  albus.  coruu  album  notat,  colorem  notat :  vt  qui  vrfum 
Vulpes  ni-  album  &  vulpem  nigram  :  quorum  vtrumque  vidimus 
ex  Mofcouia  iftic  in  Britannia.  Quanquam  vulpem 
nigram  non  queo  dicere,  etfi  vulgus  nigram  vocet : 
fed  potius  fufcam,  aut  obfcure  grifeam  reliquo  cor- 
pore. Nam  genas  atque  tibias  tantum  fufcas  habet, 
clunes  atque  caudam. 

Expletis  iam  quae  de  volatilibus  ad  te  fcripfi  mi 
Gefnere,  fuo  ordine  pifces  confequuntur. 


Appendix  2 1 1 

what  short  and  crimson,  and  crescent-shaped  at  the  tip. 
Others  are  entirely  green.  Others,  though  they  are  green 
on  the  body,  are  yellowish  on  the  long  tail.  All  have  like 
habits,  and  the  same  kind  of  food,  save  that  the  Sacropsittacus 
eats  bread  soaked  in  beer,  flesh,  and  even  fish. 

OF  WHITE  RAVENS. 

In  the  year  1548,  in  the  month  of  August,  I  saw  two 
white  Ravens  from  the  same  nest,  and  handled  them  at  the 
very  place  in  Cumberland  of  our  Britain,  bred  on  the  property 
of  a  lord  of  that  county,  and  trained  for  bird-catching  just 
like  hawks.  For  they  had  been  taught  both  to  sit  quietly  on 
the  arm  of  the  falconer,  and  when  loosed  to  fly  as  quickly  as 
possible  to  his  call  and  sign  even  from  a  distance.  Nothing 
unlucky  followed  them,  as  in  the  case  of  those  white  Swallows, 
about  which  Alexander  Myndius  wrote  according  to  ^Elian. 
For  he  who  notes  a  white  Raven  notes  the  colour;  as  he  does 
who  notes  a  white  Bear  and  a  black  Fox  ;  both  of  which  I 
have  seen  here  in  Britain  from  Muscovy.  Yet  I  can  hardly 
call  a  Fox  black,  although  the  common  people  call  it  black; 
but  rather  dusky  or  dull  grey  on  the  rest  of  the  body.  For  it 
has  only  the  cheeks  and  the  legs,  with  the  rump  and  the  tail, 
dusky. 

And  now  those  things  being  finished  which  I  have 
written  to  you  of  flying  creatures,  my  Gesner,  the  fishes 
follow  in  due  order. 


14—2 


INDEX. 


A  cant  his,    52,  53 

Accentor  inodnlaris?  xvii 

Accipiter,  14-18,  57,  66,  67,  206,  207 

.-/.  nitus,    xv 

A.    palumbarius,    14,    15,    18,    19,   56, 

57 
Accipitres,  14-17,  38,  66,  67,   116-118, 

138,   139,   166 
Acfit is  liy pole  uc  us,  xvii,  57 
Acller,   xvi,  30 
ALgithus,   74,    104,    162 
sEsalo,    14-16 
sEsalon,   1 6,   17 
'Aer6j,   30,   31 

Africans  or  Africic,  see  Gallince 
'Ai5wi>,    108 
'Aryi0ctX6s,    130,    131 
"Arxi0os,   1 60,    161 

j,  48,   49 
s,    116 
/,   1 6,    17 
"Atdrja,    no,   in 
'A/cast's,   104,   105 
'AKavdo<j>dya.,  40 
Alauda,    xiv,    80,    81,    106,    107,    146, 

'47 

A.  arbor M,  xiv 
^4.  arvensis,  xiv 
AlaudicLe,  xiv 

Albardeola,  38-40,    180,    181 
A  Ibid  I  la,   28,   30,  31 
AlccdinidiC,   xiv 
Alcedo,    18-20,   22,    1 80,   181 
^/.  ispida,  xiv 
'AX^KTwp,  82,  83 
'AX^/cropts,  82,  83 
Alke,  xv,  92,  93 
'A\KVWV,   1 8,    19 
Amsel,  xviii,    114,    115 
^//tw,  xii,  xiv,  22,  23,  32,  48,  92,  93, 

176,   180-183,   198,  204 
A.   boscas,   xv,   47 
A.  indica,   196 
A.  titrcica,    198 
Anataria,  30-33 
Anatidce,  xv 


Anser,  xi,  xii,  xv,  22-24,  26,  28,  no, 

122,   180-183,    194,   196 
A.   bassanus,  30,   196 
A.  brcndinus,    194 
.7.  minor  (the  smaller),    180,    181 
A.  palicslris,  xi 
Anthns  pratensis,  xvi 
^j,  98,  99 
Apodes,  98-103 
Apple-sheiler,  73 
Aijuila,  xii,  xv,  16,    i/,  30-38,  46,  47, 

56,  57,  120,  123,  128,  129,  138-141, 

152,  i53>  162,  163,  192 
A.  marina,  182 
.•/.  a  i  on  tana,  34 
Aquila,  Sea,  183 
Aq in 'la  vera,  36 
Aquilce,  30,  31 

Anlca,  xv,    36-40,   54,    112,    124 
A.   alba,   38,   39 
A .  cinerea,  xv 
^-.  pdla,  38,   39 

^/.  stellar  is,  x,  38-41,   126,    127 
Ardece,   38,   39 
ArJeidte,  xv 
Ardeola,   180,   181 
Arlyng,  xviii,  52,  53 
Arn,   xvi,  30,  31 
Am,  Edel,  xv,  36 
Ascalapkus,    180,   181 
Asio,   130,   131 
A.  otus,  xvii 
'A(T«:aXw7ra^,   86,   87 
Astur,   192 
^4.  paliutibarius,  xv 
Asylus,   182,   183 
Atricapilla,  44-47,  71,   no,    111,  160, 

161,    182,   183 
Atlagen,  xvii,  40-45,  86,  92,  93,   126, 

127 

Attagena,  40,  41,   44,  45,  87 
Atzel,  xv,  142,  143 
Aurifrisius,    192,   193 
Aurimttis,    40,    41,    50,    51,    106-109, 

182,   183 
Aves  Canarice,   108 


2I4 


Index 


Aves  Diot/it(dc(M,  70,   71,   78 
Aves  tardtc,    130,    131,    168,    169    (sec 
also   Tanla} 

Balbushard,  xv,    33 
Balbushardits  t  32 

Bald-Buzzard,   33 

Bap<?a,   40 

Bargander,  25 

Bao-iXetfs,    152,   153 

Bass  Goose,  31,   197 

Batis,  158,   159 

Bans,   158,   159 

Bauncok,  84 

Bergander,  xii,  xv,   24,  25,    195 

Bergandrus,  24 

Bergdol,  xv,  90,  91 

Bernacle,   195 

Bernadus,   194 

Berndclac,    195 

BerndclacuS)  1 94 

Berndgander,   195 

Bernicla,  xi,   26,  30 

B.  leucopsis,  xv 

Bernicle  (Goose),  x,  xv,  27,   31 

Bistard,  xvi,   166,   167 

Bistarda^  xii 

Bittern,  41 

Bittour,  xv,  40,  41 

Blackcock,   ix,   43 

Blak  byrd,  xviii,   114,    115 

Blocltfinck,  xvi,  160,   16 1 

Bloudvinc,   16  \ 

Bloudvinca,  160 

Bw/x,oX6%os,  90,  91 

Bonasa  sylvestris,  xvii 

Bosca,  48,  49,  182,   183 

Boovccts,  204,  205 

Botaurus,  xiv 

,5.  stellar  is ,  xv,  41 

Brachvogelchen,  xviii,    [58,    159 

Bramlyng,  xvi,   72,   73 

Brant,  xv,  27 

Branta,  xi,  26 

Brech  vogel,  xviii,   52,   53 

Brendclac,   195 

Bri'iidt'lacus,   1 94 

Brend  Gose,   194,   195 

Brent  Goose,    195 

Btfas  (Bptfas),   46,   47 

Bubo,  46,  47 

B.  ignavus,  xvii,  47 

Buchfink,  xvi,   72,   73 

Bulfinc,   161 

Biilfinca.)   1 60 

Bulfinch,   x 

Bulfinche,   xvi,    160,    161 

Bunting,  xvi,   135,    159 

Bunting,  Reed,  x 

Buntinga,   134,   158 


Burgander,   25 
Burrow  Duck,    25 
Bushard,  xv 
Buskarda,   1  6 
Bustard,  xvi,    166 
Buleo,  xii,   14-18,   32 
/>'.  vitlgaris,  xv 
Buttor,  xv,   123 
Bullora,   122 
Buttour,  xv,  40,   41 
Buzzard,   17 
Buzzard,  Moor-,  ix 

Caddo,  xv,  92,  93 
Calidris,   180,   181 
Canary  Bird,  xvi,   109 
Capella,    182,   183 
Cafrimulgidce,  xv 
CaprimulguSi  xii,  xiii,  48-51 
C,  europcciis,  xv 

Cardueiis>  xii,  40,  41,  50-53,  182,  183 
C.  elegant)  xvi 
C.  spimis,  xvi,  51 
Cartilus,   1  80,   J8i 
Cataracta,   70,   71,   180,    181 
Ceppkus,  74,   75 
Certhia,  52,  53 
6\  faniiliaris,  xv,  65 
Cci'lJiiidcc,  xv 

Chaffinche  (Chaffinch),   xvi,  72,    73 
Chalets,  56,   57 
Charadriid(2t  xv 
XapaSptos,   181 
C/iaradrius,   204,   205 
)  xv 


wj/,   96,   97 
22,   23 

t  xii>  22-25 
22-28,   31 
XXw/3e(;s,   106,    107 
XXwpiw,    1  06,    107,    132,    172,    173 
Chloris,  xii 
XXwpis,    107-109 
Chogh,  xv,  92,  93 
Choghe,  90,  91 
Choghe,  Cornish,  xv,  90,  91 
Chough,  91 

Chough,  Alpine,  x,  91 
Chough,  Cornish,  x 
Xpv<rofj,iTpis,  40,  41 
Chrysoinitris,   52,  53 
Cicoma,    x,    54,    55,    62,    63,    92,    93, 

180,  181 
C.  a/^<7,  xv 
Ciconiidcc,  xv 
Ciaitnce,   120,   121 
Cicttnia:,    120 
Cindid<Zy  xv 

duel  us,  xiii,  54-57,  170,  171,  180,  181 
C.  aquaticus,  xv,  23 


Index 


215 


Circus,   14-17 
C.  icruginosus,  xv,   33 
C.  cyaneus,  xv 
Clakc,   194,    195 
Clanga,   30,  31 
Glotburd,  xviii,  52,  53 
Cnipolegos,  xiii 
Cob,  xvi,   79 
Cobbi  marini,   78 
Coccothrausles,  xiii 
Candeo,  52,  53 
Cok,  xvii,  82,  83 
Cok  of  Kynde,   84 
CV/'/w,  88,  89 
Collurio,  58,  59 
Columbia  xv,   14,  58-60 

C.    a' lias,    XV 

C".  paluinbus,  xv 

C.  vulgaris,   194 

Coluinba:,  58,  59 

Columbi,    14,    18,  42,  44,  58-61 

Columbidee,  xv 

Columbus,  18,  58-62,  66,  67,  180,  181 

Comatibis  comata,  93 

C.  eretnita,  xvi,   93 

Coot,   77,   199 

Copcra,  xiv,   80,  8 1 

Corinorans,   206 

Cormorant,  ix,  xvii,   no,   in,   207 

Corn-Crake,  71 

Cornish  Choghe,  xv,  90,  91 

Comix,   xii,  64,  65,  90,  91,   118,  148, 

208 

C.  aqua  tic  a,  22 
C.  hyberna,  64 
Corvidic,  xv 
Corvorans,  206 
Corvorant,  207 
Corvus,  x,  34,  64,  65,  92,  93,  206, 

(albus)  210 

Coi'vits  (web-footed),  183 
C.  cujuaticus,  x,  92,   93,   206,  207 
6".  calvusy  92 
(7.  corax,  xv 
C.  comix,  xv,  65 
C.  cor  one,  xv,  65 
C.  fntgilegus,  xv,  65 
C.   inoncdula,  xv 
C.  nocturnns,  xii,  xiii 
C.  palmipes,   182 
C*.  sylvaticus,    x 
C.  varans,    206 
Corydos,  82,  83 
Cotile  riparia,   xvi 
Colnrnix,  62,  63,   68,    104,    105,   126- 

129,     138,     139,    146,     147,     202,     204 

C.   communis,  xviii 

Coushot,  xv,  60,  6 1 
Cout,  xvii,  33 
Co-ut a,  32 


Crake,   Corn-,   71 

Crainmesvogel,    J72,   173 

Crane,   x,   55,   94,   95,   97,    195 

Craspecht,  xvii,   149 

Craspechta,   148 

Creeper,   53 

Creeper,  Tree-,  ix 

Creeper,  Wall-,   53 

Crepera  (Creper),  xv,  52 

CVtu-,  68-71,  128,   129 

C.  pratensis,  xvii,  71 

Crow,  xv,  64,  65,  119,  149,  207,  209 

Crow  (that  devours),   207 

Crovv-Picus,   149 

Crow,  Carrion,  65 

Crow,  Hooded  or  Grey,  65 

Crow,  Sea,  65 

Crow,  Winter,  xv,  68 

Cryel  Heron,   xv,  38 

Cuckoo,  ix,  x,   205 

Cuculid(£,  xv 

Cue ulus,  48,  49,  66-69,  2°4 

C.  canorus,  xv 

Cukkow,  xv,  66,  67,  69 

Cuiicilcga,  xiii,  64,  65,   182,   183 

Curuca,  68,  69,  182,   183 

Cychninius,   128,   129 

Cygniis,  xiii,  xiv,   126,    127,   196 

C.   olor,  xv 

Cyniindis,   16,   17,  56,  57 

Cypsclidic,  xv 

Cypsclus  apus,  xv 

C.   iiulba,  xv 

Cypscllus,  100,    101 

Daker  Hen,  xvii,   70,   71,   128,    129 

Daulias  luscinia,  xvii 

Daw,  65,   77 

Dcndrocopus  major?  xvii 

Dike  Smouler,  xvii,    136,   137 

Diomede  (birds  of),  xvii,   71,  79 

Dipper,   23 

Distelfinck,  xvi,  40,   41 

Distelvinc,  41 

Distelvinca,  40 

D61,  xv,  92,  93 

Doterel,  205 

Doterellus,   204 

Douker,  xvii,    176,   177 

Dove,  x,  xv,   15,  58-61,  63,  97 

Dove,  Ringged,  xv,  60 

Dove,  Venice,  xv,  63 

Drossel,  xviii,   172,    173 

Apuo/coAdTTTT;?,   146,    147 

Ducher,  xvii,    no,   in,   176,   177 

Duck,    xv,    22,    23,    25,    33,    49,    177 

199,  205 

Duck,  Indian,   197 
Duck,  Turkish,   199 
Duck,  Wild,  47 


216 


Index 


Durstel,  xviii,   172,  173 
Duve,  xv,  58,  59 
Duve,  Turtel,  xv,  60 

Eagle,  31,  33,  37,  39,  47,    193 
Eagle,  Sea,    193 
Ebeher,  xv,  54,   55 
Egle,  xvi,  30 
Egle,  Right,  xv,  36 
'E7c6Aios,   1 16 
Eissvogel,  xiv,    18,    19 
Elster,  xv,    142,   143 
Elsterspecht,  xvii,   149 
Ehterspechta,   148 
Emberiza  citrinella,  xvi 
E.  iniliaria,  xvi 

E.  schoeniclus,  xvi 
Endt,   22,   23 
Engelchen,  xvi,   108,    109 
Ephemeras,  28,  29 
Ephimerus,  28 
"ETTOTTS,    174,    175 
Eritkfcus  rubecula,  xvii 
'Ep£0a/cos,   154,   155 
'Epi^a,   154,   155 
Erna,  xii,   30 

Erne,  xii,  xvi,  31 

'EpwSios,   36,   37 

Eul,  xvii,   1 20,   121 

Eul,  Schleier,  xvii,  130,  131  (see  Kanscul) 

Falco  ccsalon,  xv 

F.  sacer,  208,   209 
F.  subbuteo,  xvi 
Falconidce,  xv,  xvi 
Falcula,  98-102 
Fasant,  xvii,   140,   141 
Fasian,  xvii,    140,    141 
Fedoa,  xvii,  44,   45 
Feldefare,  Feldfare,  xviii,   58,  59 
Fenclake,   194,   195 
Fenlagge,   194,   195 

Fenlake,   194,  195 

F^ced^lla,   44,  45,   70,   71,    182,    183 

Fieldfare,  ix 

Finch,   19,  119 

Flasfinc,  xvi,   159 

Flasfinca,   158 

Florns,    74,    75,    104,    105,    1 60,    161, 

182,   183 
Fowl,   20 1 
Fox  Goose,  25 
Fringilla,    18,    52,    53,    72-75,     118, 

130,   131,    148,  149,   182,  183 
F.  ccclebs,  xvi 
F.   nwnlifriiigilla,  xvi 
Fringillago,   130,   131 
Fringilldrius,   14,  15,  18,   19 
Fringillidve,  xvi 
Frugilega,  64,  65,   182,    183,   206,  207 


Fidica,   70,  71,  74-79,   i So,   18 1,   198 
T'1.  tf/rtf,  77 
/''.  nigra  xvii 
Fulvia,  34,  35 

Galerita,  xiii,    18,   56,   57,   80-83 

6r.  cristata,  xiv 

Galgulus  (Galgalns),  88-91,   146,    147, 

182,   183 
Galli,  82,   83 

Gallina,  86,   87,    138,    140,    148 
G.    cohortalis,   84 
G.  getula,  200 
G.    nigra,   32 
G.   nigra  aqtiatica,    76 
G".  numidica,  84,  85 
6^.  pains tr is,   76 
6^.   rnstica,   82,    84,  86 
Gallinaceus,    180,    181 
Gallina!,   18,  82-87 
6".  africancc  (afruce),  82,  84,  86,    87 
6r.  Hadriamc,  84-87 
6".  villatiac,  82,   84,  86 
Gallinago,  40,  41,  86-88,   146,    147 
Gallinula  chloropus,  xvii 
6VZ//W.S-,   82,  83 
(7.  domeslicus,  xvii,  42 
£.  ferruginous^  xvii 
(7.  gallinaceus,  200 
6".  mcdicus,  84 
ra/x,i/'c6j'i;%es,  40 
Ganss,   xv,  22,   23 
Gauss,   Loffel,  xvii,   150,    151 
Ganss,  Trap,  xvi,   166,   167 
Garrnlus  glandarius,  xv 
Gavia,    78,    no,    in,    180,    181 
G.  alba    (White  Gavia),   78,    180,    181 
G.  cinerea  (Grey  Gavia),   78,   180,  181 
Gavicc  marina:,   78 
Gccimis  viridis,  xvii 
Geelgorst,  xvi,    106,    107 
Geir,  xviii,    176,   177 
repcu/os,  94,  95 
Gersthammer,  xvi,   135 
Gersthammcra,   134 
Geyr,  xviii,  176,    177 
Geyr  Swalbe,  xv,   102,   103 
Ghiandaja,   145 
FXau^,    1 20,    121 
Glede,  xvi,    116,    117 
rXwrris,    104,    105 
Godwit,  ix 
Godwitt,  xvii,  45 
Godwitta,   44 
Goldfinc,  41 
Goldfinca,  40 
Goldfinche,   xvi,   40,  41 
Gold  hendlin,  xviii,    168,   169 
Goose,  23,  25,  27,  29,  in,  123,   139, 

195,   197 


Index 


217 


Goose,   Bass,   31,    197 

Goose,   Bernacle   (or  Bernicle),  x,   27, 

3i»  195 

Goose,  Brant  (or  Brent),  xv,   27,   195 
Goose,  Fox,   25 
Gose,  xv,    22 
Goshawk,  19 
Gosling,  177 
Gouke,   xv,  66,  67 
Graculi,  90,   91,  94,   95 
Graculus,    x,  90,  91,  94,  95 
Graesmusch,  xviii,   no 
Grasmuklen,  xviii,  44,  45 
Grasmuschen,   47 
GrasmuschuSy  46,  72 
Grassmusch    (Grasmusch),    xvii,    xviii, 

73>   !36,   137 
Grass-sparrow,   1  1  1 
Greenfinch,   41 
Grenefinc,   107 
Graiefnica,  106 
Grenefinche,  xvi,    104,    105 
Grey-clak,   195 
Grey  Hen,  ix 
Grey-Lag,   195 
Grouse,   Hazel,  xvii 
Gruida*.  xvi 
Grtinling,   xii 

Grunspecht,  xvii,  89,    113,    115,    149 
Grnuspcchta,    148 
Grunspechtiis,  88,    112,    114 
Grits,    54,    62,    63,    94-96,    180,    181, 

,'95 

G.  conununis,  xvi 

Gryphen,    178 

Gryps,    178,   179 

Guinea  Fowl,  85 

Gull,  79 

Gull,  Black-headed,  ix,   77 

Gull,  Grey,  xvi 

Gull,   White,  xvi 

IWeueros,    34 

rtf&    176,    177 

Guse,  Solend,  xvii,  28 

Gy  pact  us  barb  at  us,   xvi,   129 

Hadrians,  ^see   Gallium 


1  02,   103 
Halcyon,   20,   21 
Halueetos,  36,  37,    192,   193 
Halucetus,  34,   35 
//.  albicilla,   xvi 
Han,  xvii,  82,  83 
Harrier,  see  Hen-  Harrier  and   Marsh- 

Harrier 

Hawk,   18,   19,  39,  68,   119,    167 
Hedge-Sparrow,    xvii,    136,    137 
Hen,  xvii,  82,   83 
Hen,    Getulian,   201 
Hen-  Harrier,  ix,   19 


Hen-Harroer,  xv,   18 

Hen,   Marsh,  77 

Hen.    Mot,  xvii,    170,   171 

Hen,   Water,  xvii,  77,   170,   171 

Heron,  xv,  36,  37,  41,  55,  113,  125 

Heron,  Blue,   38 

Heron,  Cryel,  xv,   38 

Heron,   Dwarf,   xv,  38 

Heron,  Night,  xiii 

Hewhole,  xvi,    115,    149 

Hicrofalco,  208,   209 

HimantopuS)  102 

ffinnulariet,  30,  31 

ffiruttdinidts,  xvi 

Ilirundo,  96-102,  116,    117,    170,    173 

H.  agrestis,  98 

H.  (alba),  210 

H.  aquatica,  xiii 

H.  dor/iestica,   100 

ff.  riparia,  98-102 

H.  rufula,  99 

H.  rustica,   xvi,   98,   100,    101 

Hobbia,   18 

Hobby,  ix,  xvi,   19 

Holtzsnepff,  xvii,  86,  87 

Holtztaube,  xv,  60,  61 

Htin,  xvii,  82,   83 

Horn  Oul  (Owl),  xvii,   130,   131 

Houp,  xviii,  174,  175 

Howlet,  xvii,   120,  121 

llowpe,  xviii,  174,    175 

Huhol,   xvii,  89,   115 

Huhola,   114,   148 

Huholus,  88 

Hydrochelidon  nigra,   xvi 

Hyrundo,  204 

laia,  144 
Ibid  idee,  xvi 
Ibis,  Glossy,    57 
Ibis,   Red-cheeked,  xvi 
Icteros,  88,  89 
"I/CTO/OS,   1 1 6,   117 
Iliacus,   170,   171 
lynx,    146-149 
/.  torquitta,  xvii 

Jay,  xv,    145 

Junco,   102,  103,   170,  171,    180,   181 

Ka,  xv,  92,  93 
Kastrel,  xvi,    166,    167 
Kautz,   xvii,   46,   47 
Ke7xp«,    1 66,    167 
KeXe6s,   88,   89,    146 
Ke?r0os,   74-77 
Kersenrife,  xvi,  172,   173 
Klx\a,    170,    171 
KiyicXos,   54,    55 
Kingfisher,  xiv,  21,  23 


2l8 


Index 


Kirsfincke,   xvi,   104,   105 

Kistrel,  xvi,    166,   167 

Kite,  x,   117,    193,   197 

Kite  (Blacker),  117 

Ktrra,    142,    143 

Kj>i7roX67os,   64,  65 

Koelmussh  (Koelmusch),  xvii,  136,  137 

Koelni  uss/i  us,   136 

KOKKVJ;,     66,    67 

Kok  of  Inde,  xvii,  86 

KoXtos,  88,  89,   146,   147 

KoXXu/nW,  58,  59 

Kolmeyse,  xvii,   130,    131 

KoXotos,  90,  91,   146 

KoXv/uippis  (KoXvjtt/Wj),   176,    177 

Kopa/aas,  90,    91 

K6/>a£,   64,  65 

Kopwj'?;,   64,  65 

Kopu5a\6s,  80,  81 

K.6pv6os,  80-83 

Korri>06s  (Koirrvfios),   114,    1J5 

Krae,  xv,  64,  65 

Kraeg,  xv,  64,  65 

Krammesvogel,  xviii,  58,  59,  170,   171 

Kran,  xvi,  94,  95 

Kranich,  xvi,  94,  95 

Kuewos,  52,   53,   181 

Kukkuck,  xv,  66,  67 

Kvnvos,  82,   83,    1 20,   121 

Kuningsgen,  xviii,    152,    153 

Kyngesfissher,  xiv,    18,   19 

Kyte,  xvi,   116,    117 

Kywit,  xv,  77 

Kyivitta,  76 

Leaves,   14,  15 

Lagopes   (Lagopus],    104,   105 

Aay<jj<t>6vos,  34 

Lagopus  unit  us,  xviii 

Z.  scoticus,  xviii 

Lammergeier,  36,  129 

Laniidce,  xvi 

Lanitis  excubitor,  xvi 

Z.   minor?,  xvi 

Lapwing,  x,  xv,    175 

Lapwinga,  76,    174 

Larida,  xvi 

Lark,   19 

Acipos,  74,  75,  78,   79 

Zrtr/w,   xvi,  74,  75,  78,   79 

L.  ridibundus,  xvi,  77 

Laverock,  xiv,  So,  81 

Lefler,  xvii,    150,   151,   153 

Leftera,  152 

Leporaria,  34,  35 

Lerc,  8 1 

Lerc,  Wilde,  81 

Lerca,  80 

Lerch,   xiv,  80,  81 

Lerch,  Heid,   xiv,  80,  81 


Lerck,  Wod-,  xiv,  80 

Lerk,  xiv,    So,  81 

Lerk,   Ileth,  xiv,   So 

Lerk,  Wilde,  xiv,  So 

Aeu/cepwSios,   38,   39 

Libicus,   164 

AifivKos,   164,   165 

Libyan  Bird,    165 

Ligurin  us,   1 04 ,    105 

L.  chloris,  xvi 

Limosa  belgica,  xvii 

Linaria,    158,   159 

Lingett,   xviii,  47,   m 

Lingetta,  46,   no 

Lingutaca,  104,  105,  128,   129 

Linot,  xvi,  51,    159 

Linota,   50,   158 

L.  cannabina,  xvi 

Livia,    58-61 

Loffel   Gauss,   xvii,    150,   151 

Loun,  xvii,   177 

Louna,  176 

Ay/cos,  90,  91 

Liiningk,  xvi,  132,   133 

Lupus,  90,  91,  94,  95 

Lusctma,  44,  45,  68,  69,    108-111 

Liilea  (Luteus),   106-108 

Luteola,    108,    109,    182,    iS3 

Lyke  Foule,  xvii,  46,  47 

Lyssklieker,  xiii 

MaXa/co/c/mj'ei/s,    116,   117,    132 

JMarcca  penelope,  xv,  22 

Marsh-Harrier,  33 

Marsh- Hen,   77 

Martinette  (or  Martnette),  Chirche,   xv, 

102,    1O3 

Martinette,   Rok,  xv,   102,   103 

Martnet,  Bank,  xvi,   102,    103 

Matrix,   128,   129   (cp.    126) 

Mavis,    xviii,    172,   173 

Mediae,  84,  85 

Meelmeyse,  xvii,    130,    131 

MelaznaetoS)  34,  35 

MeXa7/copi;0os,   44,   45 

MeXameros,   34 

Meleagris,  82-87,    140,   141,   200,   201 

Mdiae,  84,   85 

Mercolphus,  xv,    144,   145 

Mcrgus,    xiv,    76,    77,    no,    ni,    126, 

127,   176,    177,    180,    181,   206,   207 
Merl,  xviii,   114,   115 
Merlin,   xv,    17 
Mcrlina,   16 
Meropidce,  xvi 
Merops,   112-115 
M.  apiaster,  xvi 
Merula,  48,   49,  52,   53,  82,   83,    114, 

115,    146-149,   164,    165,   170,   171 
M.   aqualica,  xiii 


Index 


219 


Mewe,  Wyss,  xvi,  74,  75 

Meyse,   130,   131 

Meyspecht,   xvii,    162,   163 

Meyspechtus,  1 62 

Miliaria,  50,  51,   158,    159 

Milvius   (Milviis),    16,    17,    116,    117, 

192,   196 

Milvus   ictinus,  xvi 
^/.  a/<?r  (nigrior),  xvi,   116 
Mistletoe-Thrush,  xviii 
Molliceps,  58,  59,   1 16,   117,  120,    121, 

132,  133,  168,  169 
Monedula,  64,   76,  90-93,    146-149 
Monctula,   90,  91 
Monticola,   130,   131 
MontifringiUat  72,  73,  182,   183 
Moor-Buzzard,  ix,  33 
Moorhen,   171 
Morhen,   xviii,  87,   171 
Morhenna,  86 
Morinellus,  202-205 
Morphna  (Morphnos],    30,    31 
Mortetter,  xviii,   159 
Mor tetter  a,    1 58 
Motacilla,  64,  65 
M.  alba,   xiii,  xvi 
M.  lugubris,  xvi 
Motacillida,  xvi 
Mot   Hen,  xvii,    170,   171 
Musche,  xvi,   132,   133 
Myre  Dromble,  xv,  38 

Nachtgal,   xvii,   108,   109 
Nachtra,  xii,   xiii 
Nachtrab,  xiii 
Nachtrap,  xii 
Naghtrauen,  xii,  xiii 

i'os,  30 

22,   23 
30 

Neun  murder,  xvi,   168,   169 
Neunmiirder,  Grosse,    168,    169 
Night-Heron,  xiii 
Nocltia,  46,  47,  120,  121,  130,  131,  180, 

181 

Nonna,   132 
Nousbrecher,  xv,  94 
Nucifraga,  94,   95 
N.  caryocatactes,  xv 
Nucipeta,   162 

Nuin  murder,    xvi,    116,   117 
NuKTt/copa^,    1 20,   130 
Nituiida  meleagi'is,  xvii 
Nmnidica,  see   Gallina 
Nun  (Non),  xvi,   133 
Nushakker,    xvii,    162,    163 
Nutcracker,  x 
Nutjobber,   xvii,    162,   163 
Nutseeker,   163 
Nycticorax,  xii,  xiii 


Nyghtyngall,    xvii,   108,    109 

Nyn  murder,  xvi,   116,   Ji7,   168,   169 

Nyi'oca  farina,  xv 


OiVds,  62,  63 

Oistris,   xvii,   164,    165 

Oloi-y   120-123,    126,   180-183 

Onocrotalus  (Onocralalus),  x,   xiii,  xiv, 

122-127 
Orfraie,   193 
Oriolida,  xvi 
Oriohis  galbula,   xvi 
'Opoffirlfrs,   72,   73 
"O/aruf,   62,   63 
Ortygometra  ,  126-129 
Osel,   Black,  xviii,   114,   115 
Osprey,   ix,  xvi,  34,  35,   37,   i93~*95 
Ossifraga,    36,   118,   128,    129,   193 
0.  barbata,   \  28 
Ossifrage,   37,   129 
Ossifrage,  Bearded,    129 
Otidida,  xvi 

Otis,   130,  131,   168,   169 
0-  tarda,  xvi 
'i7ros,    120,    130,    131 
Otus,    128-131,   204,   205 
"Ovpa|,    1  66,   167 
Ousel,  Water,   23 
Owl  (Oul),   xvii,   120,   121 
Owl,  Eagle,  47 
Owl,  Hawk,   157 
Owl,  Horn,  xvii,    130,    131 
Owl,  Horned,   120 
Oxei,  Great,  xvii,   130 
Oxeye,  Great,   131 

Pageliin,  xvii,   136,    137 
Palmipedes,    120 

Paluiiibarius,   14,    15,   18,   19,  56,  57 
Palunibes,   58-61,    68,   69,   180,    18  1 
PaliimbiiSy   1  8,   60,  61 
Pandion  haliactus,  xvi 
Pandionidcc,  xvi 
Papegay,   xvii,   150,   151 
Pap/uis,   50,  51 
UapdaXos,   58 
Pardahis,   132,    133 
Paridcc,  xvi 
Parrot,  xvii,   209 
Partridge,  43,  63,  141,  203 
Pants,    130-133,    182,    183 
P.  ater,  xvii 
P.  cceruleus,   xvi 
P.  major,  xvii 
/•*.  inajciinus,    132,    162 
P.   inedius,    130 
P.  minimus,   132 
P.  palustris,  xvii 

Passer  (Pascer),   18,  72,  104,  106,  108, 
I37~I39»  :6o,  168,  180-183 


22O 


Index 


Passer  coinmnnis,    134 
P.  dotnesticus,  xvi 

P.  gran  linens,   no,    in 

P.  Jiantndinaccns,  104,  105 

/'.  inagnus,  134 

P.  sepiaritiSi   136,  137 

P.  ton] italics,   134,   135 

/".  troglodites  (troglodytes},    134-137 

Passer,  Common,   135 

Passer,  Great,  135 

Passenulus,  134 

Pavo,   136-139 

P.  cristatus,   xvii 

P.   iiidicus,   86 

Peacock,   137,  139 

Peacock,  Indian,  87 

Pecok,  xvii,   136,   137 

IleAeids,  60,   61 

Pelccanns  (Pdicanus],   150-153 

IleXe/cd?,    150,   151 

Fella,  38,  39 

Penelopes,  22-25 

Penelops,  22,   182,  183 

Pence,   14,    15 

Percnoptems,  34,  35 

Pennos,  30-33 

Perdix,  xiv,   18,  42-44,   138-141,   180, 

181,  202 
/*.  cinerea,  xvii 

T3.   rnstica  (nisticula),  xii,    140,   141 
/*.  viilgaris,  xiv 

,  138,  139 

d,  58,  59 
40 
14 

Pernix,  14,   15 
Pertrige,  xvii,   138,   139 
Pffaw,   xvii,   136,   137 
Phalacrocoracidce,  xvii 
Phalacrocorax,  x,  92-95 
T3.  carbo,  xvii 
/*.  graciilus?  xvii 
Phalaris,  92,  93,    182,   183 
PJiasianidcc,   xvii 
Phasianus,  40,   140,   141,   200 
^  colchicus,  xvii 
4>dTTa,   60,   61 
Pheasant,  41,   201 
$^1?,  36 

Phesan,  xvii,   140,    141 
Philomela,   108,  109 
P/iceuiciira,  157 
Ph<xnicurits,   154-157 
Phccnix,  xvii,    140,   141 

((powiKOvpyos),   154,   155 
X  38-41 

38 

Yoz,   118,   142-145,   170,  171 
.  granata,   144 
^.  marina,   198 


/Vm  rustic  a,  xv 
/'.  viilgaris,  144 
Picida',  xvii 

/y«/j,  54,  114,  115,  146-149,  162,  163 

/J.  cornicinus,  148 
Picus,  Crow,  149 
Picus,  Green,  115 
/Vc-wj  martins,  xiii,  xvii,  88,  89,  146, 

147,   182,   183 
P.  maximtts,   148 
7J.  inediits,    148 
T7.  minimus,   148 
/'.  viridis,    1  1  2 
Pie,   119,    145,   199 
Pie,  Common,   145 
Pie,  Sea,   199 
Pie,   Seed,    145 

Pigargus  (Pygargns),  xii,   30,  31 
on         ,  45»   195 


Pilaris  (Turdiis),    170,   171 

Piot,  xv,   142,   143 

Pipers  (of  Crane  or  Pigeon),  96,  97 

Pipiones,  96,  97 

Pipit,  Tree-,  69 

Pipo,   146,  147 

Pittour,  xv,  40,  41,  123 

Pittourus,  40,   122 

lIAcryyo  s,  30 

Plane  ns,   30,   31 

Planga,  30,  31 

llXcij/os,  30 

Plalalea  leucorodia,  xvii,  41 

PlalaleidiC,  xvii 

Platea,   150,   151,   180,    181 

Platclea,    150,   151 

Plegadis  falcinellns,  5  7 

Plover,  Stilt,    102 

Pluver,  xv,   132,   133 

Pochard,  xv,  49 

Pochards,  48 

Podicipedidcc,   xvii 

Podieipes  minor,  xvii 

Popinjay,  xvii,    150,    151 

Porpliyrio,    102,    103,    152,   153 

/'.  cidestis,   xvii 

Pratincola  >  nbicola,  xviii 

n/acv/sws,  152,  153 

"Priest,"  51 

Procellariidce,   xvii 

^cipos,    164,    165 

Psilaca,    1  50 

Psitaee,   150,    151 

Psilacus  (Psiticiis),  82,    83,    142,    143, 

W.J5I 

Psiltacidce,  xvii 

Psittaeus  (Sacropsittacus),   208-211 
14 
14 
f,   56,    57 


Index 


221 


Puffinus,  xvii 

Tlvyapyos,    170;   see  Pigargns 

Pnlla,  34,  35 

Pulver,  xv,  132,  133 

Puphin,  205 

Puphinus,  204 

Pupin,   197,   205 

Pupinus,   196,  204 

n.vppov\as,    1 60,    161 

Ilvppovpds,   161 

Puttok,  xvi,   1 1 6,    117 

Py,  xv,   142,    143 

Pygargus,  see  Pigargus 

Pygosceles,   204,   205 

Pyrrhocorax,  90-93 

P.  alpinus,  xv 

P.  graculus,  xv 

Pyrrhula  europtea,  xvi 

Quail,  63,  69,   203,  205 
Quale,  xviii,  62,  63 
Qiicn/iiL-ifttla  crecca,  xv 
Quikstertz,  xvi,  64,  65 

Rabe,  xv,  64,  65 

Rail,  Water,  71 

/?#/#,  xii,  xiii,    140 

R.  aquatica,  xii 

R.  aquatilis,  xiii 

^.  Montana,  xiii 

^.  sylvestris,  xiii 

A*,  terrestris,  xii 

Rale,  xvii,   141 

Rallida,  xvii 

Rail  us  aquaticiis,  71 

Ranseul,  xvii,   130,   131 

Raphon,  xvii,   138,   139 

Rauce,  206,  207 

l\<tucns,   206,   207 

Raven,  xv,  35,  64,  65 

Raven,  White,  2ri 

Rayn  byrde,  xvii,   146 

Redbreast,  ix,    161 

Redbreste,  Robin,  xvii,    154,    155 

Rede  Sparrow,  xvi,    102,   103 

Rede  tale,  xviii,    154,    155 

Redshanc,  xvii 

Redshanca ,   101 

Redshank,   103 

Redstart,  ix,   155 

Reed-Bunting,  x 

Reed-Sparrow,   105 

Regulus,    52,    53,    118,    119,    134-137, 

152-155,   168,   169,   182,    183 
R.  cri status  ?  xviii 
Reydt  Miiss,  xvi,   102,    103 
Reyger,  xv,   36,  37 
Ringel  Taube,  xv,  60,  6r 
Ringged  Dove,  xv,  60,  61 
Ringtail,   19 


Ringtale,  xv 

Ringtalus,  xii,    18 

Ringtayle,  xii 

Riparia,  98-102 

Robin  Redbreste,  xvii,  154,   155 

Rook,  65 

Rosdom,  xv,  40,  41,   123 

Rosdomma,    122 

RosdommuS)  40 

Rotbrust,  xvii,   154,   155 

Rotkelchen,  xvii,   154,  155 

Rotstertz,  xviii,   154,   155 

Rouce  (Rouke),  206,  207 

Rowert,  xvi,  72,   73 

Rtibecula,   154-159,   182,   183 

Rubetarins,   14,  15,   18,   19 

Rubetra.)   158,    159,   182,  183 

Rubicilla,   156,   157,  160,  161,  182,  183 

Rupex,  1 80,   181 

'Py<ro/A?77-p77?,  40,  41 

Rusticu/a,  xii 

Rut  id lla,    154-159 

R.  phcenicurus,  xviii 

Sacropsittacus ,  208-2 1 1 

Solus )   1 60,   161 

Sandpiper,  ix 

Sandpiper,  Common,  57 

Saxicola  ccnanthc,  xviii 

Sxt^TroSa,  40 

S%otVi/cXos,   102,   103 

Schrecke,  71 

Schric,  xvi,   169 

Schricus,  168 

Schriek,   71 

Schryk,  xvii,  70,  71 

Schuffauss,  xvii,  46,    47 

Schiiffel,  xvii,  46,  47 

Schwalb,  xvi,  96,  97,   102,   103 

Scolopacida,  xvii 

Scolopax  ntsticnla,  xvii 

Scops,  204,  205 

Scrica,  xvii,   128,   129 

Sea-Aquila,    183 

Sea-Cob,   79 

Sea-Eagle,   193 

Sea- Pie,  199 

Se  Cob,  xvi,  78-79 

See  Gell,  xvi,  78-79 

Zeuro-n-vyis,   54,   55 

Semaw  (white  with  a  black  cop),  xvi, 

74'  75 

Senator^   152,  153 
Serinus  canarius,   xvi 
Shearwater,  71 
Sheldappel,  xvi,  72,   73 
Sheld-Drake,  25 
Shell-apple,  73 
Shovelard,   xvii,    41.    150,    151 
Shovelarda,   38 


222 


Index 


Shric,   169 

Shricus,   168 

Shrike,  ix,  xvi,    116,   117 

Siskin,  xvi,  51,    108,   109 

Sitta,   162,    163 

S.  ccesia,  xvii 

Sittidcc,  xvii 

^jKvnrcxpdya,,  40 

2/toXoTra^,   87 

S\'w\77/co0a7a,  40 

Smatche,  xviii,  52,  53 

Smerl,  xv,   17 

Smerla,   16 

Snepff,  Holtz,  xvii,  42,  86 

Sneppa,  70,  71 

Solend  Guse,  xvii,  28 

Sparhauc,  xv 

Sparhauca^  18 

Sparrow,  xvi,   73,    105,   107,  109,   n/, 

i32>   i33»   '35.    l6l>    l69 
Sparrow,  Grass,    1 1 1 
Sparrow- Hawk,   19 
Sparrow,   Hedge,  xvii,    136,   137 
Sparrow,   Rede,  xvi,   102,   103 
Sparrow,  Reed,   105 
Spatz,  xvi,    132,   133 
Specht,  xvii,    146,   147,   149 
Spechta,    1 48 
Speiren,  xvi,   102,    103 
Sperlingk,  xvi,  132,  133 
"ZirepfjioXdyos,  64,  65,   206,    207 
SpermologuS)  206,  207 
Sperwer,  xv,   18,   19 
Spink,  xvi,   72,   73 
Sjtinus,  40,  41,  64,  65,  104-107,  182, 

183 

Sir/fa,   72,   73 
Spoonbill,  x,  41 
Star,  xvii,    164,  165 
Starling,   23,  95,    165,   205 
^TeyavoTToda,  40 
Steinbeisser,  xiii 
Steinchek,  xviii,  52,  53 
Steingall,  xvi,   166,   167 
Stellaris,  14,  15,  (Ardea)*,  38-41,  126, 

127 

Sterlyng,  xvii,   164,    165 
Stern,  xvi,  79 
Sterna,  78 
S.  nigra,  79 
Steynbisser,  xvii,  54,  55 
Stigelitz,  xvi,   40,  41 
Stilt- Plover,    102 
Stocdove,  xv,  60,  61 
Stonchatter,  xviii,    159  • 

Stonchattera,   \  58 
Stor,  xvii,   164,    165 
Storck,  xv,  54,  55 
Stork,  xv,  54,   55 
Strauss,  xvii,   164,    165 


Sir  ig  idee,  xvii 
Strix  stridula  ?  xvii 


132,   133 
"Zrpovdos,    164,    165 
Strnthio,   44,  45,   164,    165 
Struthio   catiielus,    xvii,    92,    93,     i6-». 

165,   168,   169 
Strttthionidce,  xvii 
SturnidcZ)  xvii 
Sturnus,  22,   94,    164,   165,    168,    169, 

204 

S.  vulgaris,  xvii 
Snbaquila,^,  35 

Subuteo  (Subletted),  xii,   14,    15,    18,  19 
Su/ca\ts,   70,   71 
Sn  la  bassana,   xvii 
Siilidic,   xvii 

Swalbe,  Geyr,  xv,    102,   103 
Swalbe,  Kirch,  xv,  102,   103 
Swalbe,   Uber,  xvi,   102,    JO3 
Swale,  xvi,  96,  97 
Swallow    (Swallowe),   ix,    xvi,    96,  97, 

101-103,   205 
Swallow,  Black,   ror 
Swallow,  Great,  xv,    102,    103 
Swallow,   House,   101 
Swallow,  Water,  xiii,  xvii,  54,   55 
Swan,  xv,   120,   121,   123,   127,   197 
Swan,  xv,   120,    121 
Sylvia,    182,   183 
S.  atricapilla,  xviii 
S.  rufa,  xviii 
Sylviidee,  xvii,  xviii 

Tadorna  cornuta,  xv,  25 

Taw*/,   136,    137 

Thrda,    xii,    180,-    181,  (see  also   Aves 

tardce) 

Taube,  xv,  58,   59 
Taube,  Ringel,  xv,   60 
Tela,   48 
Tele,  xv,  49 
Tern,  Black,  ix,  79 
Tetrao,  30,  31,   130,    131,    166,   167 
7".  tetrix,  xviii 
Tctraonidff,  xviii 
Tetrix,  30,  31,    166,   167 
T&y>if,   1  66,   167 
Thraupis,  xii,  52,  53 
OpauTrts,  xii,  50,  51 
Throssel,  xviii,   172,   173 
Thrusche,  xviii,   170,   171 
Thrush,   59,   119,   175,    177,  209 
Thrush,  Blue,  53 
Thrush,  Mistletoe,  xviii 
Thrushe,  xviii,   172,   173 
Tichodroma  muraria,  53 
Tinunculus  {Tinnnnculus),  166,   167 
Tinmtnailns  alaudarius,  xvi 
Titlark,  69 


Index 


223 


Titling,  69 
Titlinga,   68 
Titlyng,  xvi,  68,   69 
Titmouse,   130,    131 
Titmous[e],  Great,  xvii,   130,   131 
Titmouse,  Greatest,    133 
Titmous[e],  Less,  xvii,  130,  131 
Torquella  (Torqiiilla},   146-149 
Totanns  calidris,   xvii 
Trapp  (Trap),  xvi,  31,   166,   167 
Trappus,   xii,  30 
Tree- Creeper,  ix 
Tree-Pipit,  69 
Triorcha,   14,   15 
Triorchcs,    16,   17 
Tpi6px^,   14,    1 6,   17 
T/x>xt\os,    152,    153 
7  'rock  Hits,    152,    153 
Troglodytes  (Troglodites},   134-137 
T,  pai-vuhis,  xviii,    155 
Troglodytidte,  xviii 
Tpvyyas,    170,    171 
Tpvywv,  60 

Tryiiga,    170,    17  r,    180,    i8[ 
Turbo,   146-149 
Turdidff,   xviii 
T'nrdus,    58,    102,    105,    118,    170   174, 

208 

T.  iliacus,   xviii,    170,    171 
T.  incrula,   xviii 
T.  mnsicus,   xviii 
T.  pilaris,  xviii,    170,    171 
T.  viscivorns,  xviii,    170,    171 
Turtel  Duve,    xv,  60,  6r 
Turtle- Dove,  89 
Turtnr,   58-61,  88,   89,    146,   147,    172 

-175,  i 80,  181 
T.  communis,  xv 
Tyrannus,  120,  12  r,  154,  155,  168, 

169 

Ule,  xvii,    1 20,   121 
Ulula,    130,   131 
'T7rcueT(5s,  34 
Upupa,   174,   175 
£/.  epops,  xviii 
Upnpidce,  xviii 
Unix,   166,   167 
Urinatrix,  92,  93,    176,    177,  182,   183 

Valeria,  34,  35 

Vannelhts,  76,   77,   174,    175 

Fi  vulgaris,  xv 

Velt  hon,  xvii,   138,    139 

Venice  Dove,  xv,  63 


Villatica,  82,  84,  86 

Vinago,   58-63,    180,    181 

Vipiones,   96,   97 

F/m>,    58,    59,    106,    107,    148,    149, 

i72-J75 

Viscivorus  (Turdiis),   170,    171 
Visharn,  xvi,   34,  35 
Vogelhain,  xiii 

Viilpanser,   xii,  24,  25,   182,  183 
Vultur,  xviii,   34,   166,   176-178 
K  niger,   178 
Vulture,  35,    177,  179 
Vulture,  Black,   179 
-,  xviii 


Wachholtervogel,  xviii,   170,    171 

Wachtel,  xviii,  62,  63 

Wagtale,  xviii,   64,  65 

Waldrapp,  x 

Wall-  Creeper,  53 

Waltrap,  xvi 

Walt-rapp,  x 

Waltrapus,  9'2~95 

Wasser  Hen,  xvii,   170,    171 

Wasser  Steltz,  xvi,  64,  65 

Water-Craw,  xv,  22,  23 

Water-Hen,  xvii,    170,    171 

Water-Hen  (black  with  a  white  frontal 

patch),  77 

Water  Ousel,  ix,   23 
Water  Rail,   71 

Water  Swallow,   xiii,  xvii,  54,  55 
Weidwail,  xvi,    172,   173 
Weingaerdsvogel,   xviii,   172,   173 
Weye,  xvi,    116,    i  \~] 
Wheatear,  ix,   53 
Widhopff,  xviii,    174,   175 
Wigene,  xv,   48,  49 
Wigeon,  22 
Witwol,  xvi,   172,   173 
Wodcoccus,  42 
Wodcok,  xvii,  86,  87 
Wodlerck,  xiv,  80 
Wodspcchta,   148 
Woodcock,  42,   45,  89 
Woodpecker,  55 

Woodspecht  (Wodspecht),  xvii,  149 
Wren,  xviii,    152,    153,   155 
Wyngthrushe,  xviii,   172,   173 

Yelowham,  xvi,  106,  107 
Yowlring,  xvi,   106,   107 

Zaunkiiningk,  xviii,   152,   153 
Zeysich,  xvi,  108,   109 


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Turner,  W. 

Turner  on  birds. 


uaii  iNumoer: 

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T8 


167417 


